The Yak-141 (formerly Yak-41) was supposed originally to switch Yak-38 for air defence of Kiev class carriers/cruisers, with secondary attack capabilities. Designed for carrier-borne operations as an air interceptor, close air combat, maritime and ground attack aircraft, the Yak-141 has the same multi-mode radar as the MiG-29, though with a rather smaller antenna housed in the nose radome. It features a triplex full authority digital fly-by-wire system.
The Yak-141 continues previous Soviet V/STOL principles, combining a lift and propulsion jet with two fuselage mounted lift jets in tandem behind the cockpit, with cruise power provided by one Tumansky R-79 jet engine. The R-79 has a rear lift/cruise nozzle that deflect down for take-off while the two lift engines have corresponding rearward vector to make sure stability.
