Yakovlev
Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer of Yak series.
Yakovlev is a Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer, known for its design office prefix Yak. It is a subsidiary of Yakovlev Corporation, with its head office in the Aeroport District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow. The bureau is notable for designing the Pchela drone reconnaissance aircraft and for its highly successful line of World War II-era piston-engined fighter aircraft.
- Founded
- 1934 (dates birth from 12 May 1927, maiden flight of AIR-1)
- Head office
- Aeroport District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow
- Subsidiary of
- Yakovlev Corporation
- Notable aircraft
- Yak-1 family, Pchela drone
- Sanctions
- Sanctioned by Canadian government on 22 August 2023
Lore & Background
The bureau formed in 1934 under aircraft designer Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev as OKB-115, but dates its birth from 12 May 1927, the day of the maiden flight of the AIR-1 aircraft developed within the Department of Light Aircraft of GUAP under Yakovlev's supervision. During World War II, Yakovlev designed and produced a line of fighter aircraft such as the Yak-1 family. Irkut acquired Yakovlev in April 2004. The Russian government merged the holding company with Mikoyan, Ilyushin, Irkut, Sukhoi and Tupolev as a new company named United Aircraft Building Corporation in February 2006. In August 2023, Irkut Corporation rebranded itself as Yakovlev, and the Sukhoi Superjet 100 was redesignated as the SJ-100, while the Irkut MC-21 also adopted the Yakovlev name.
Reader's Guide
Yakovlev's significance lies in its long history as a Soviet and Russian aircraft designer, particularly for its World War II-era fighter aircraft like the Yak-1 family, which were highly successful. The firm also designed the Pchela drone reconnaissance aircraft, first flown in 1990, marking its entry into unmanned systems. Its legacy includes being part of the United Aircraft Building Corporation after a 2006 merger, and its recent rebranding in August 2023, when Irkut Corporation renamed itself Yakovlev, bringing the Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Irkut MC-21 under the Yakovlev name. The company was sanctioned by the Canadian government on 22 August 2023, reflecting contemporary geopolitical tensions.
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