Yakovlev Yak-9

National origin:- Soviet Union

Role:- Fighter

Manufacturer:- Plant No.153 (Novosibirsk), Plant No.166 (Omsk), Plant No.82 (Moscow)

Design group:- A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau

First flight:- 6th July 1942 (Yak-7DI)

Introduction:- October 1942

Status:- Retired 1950 (Soviet Air Forces), 1951 (Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force), 1955 (Bulgarian Air Force)

Produced:- October 1942 - December 1948

Number built:- 16,769

Primary users:- Soviet Air Forces; French Air Force (Normandie-Niemen); Polish Air Force; Yugoslav Air Force

Developed from:- Yakovlev Yak-7

The Yakovlev Yak-9 (Russian: Яковлев Як-9) was a single-engine single-seat multipurpose fighter aircraft used by the Soviet Union in World War II and after. It was a development of the robust and successful Yak-7B fighter which was based in turn on a tandem-seat advanced trainer Yak-7UTI. The Yak-9 started arriving in Soviet fighter aviation regiments in late 1942 and played a major role in retaking air superiority from the Luftwaffe's new Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighters during the grand Battle of Kursk in summer 1943.

The Yak-9 had a cut down rear fuselage with an all-around vision canopy. Its lighter metal structure allowed for an increased fuel load and armament over previous models build from wood. Yak-9 was manoeuvrable at high-speed at low and medium altitudes and easy to control, which made it one of most produced Soviet fighters of World War II. It was produced in different variants including the Yak-9T with the 37 mm (1.5 in) cannon and the 'large-calibre' Yak-9K with a 45 mm (1.77 in) cannon firing through propeller hub to be used against tanks and aircraft, the fighter-bomber Yak-9B with an internal bomb bay behind cockpit for up to 400 kg (880 lb) bombs, the long-range Yak-9D and the Yak-9DD with additional wing fuel tanks to escort bombers over Eastern Europe, and the Yak-9U with a more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics. The Yak-9 remained in production from 1942 to 1948, with 16,769 built (14,579 during the war).

Operational history - Second World War

The first Yak-9 entered service in October 1942 and saw combat the same year. The Yak-9 operated with a wide variety of armament for use in anti-tank, light bomber and long-range escort roles. At low altitude, in which it operated predominantly, the Yak-9 was more maneuverable than the Bf 109. A series of improvements in performance and armament did not degrade the handling characteristics. Soviet pilots regarded the Yak-9's performance as being comparable to the Bf 109G and Fw 190A-3/A-4. After the Battle of Smolensk, in the second half of 1943, the famed Free French Normandie-Niémen unit became a Groupe and was equipped with the Yak-9.

The first unit to use the Yak-9U, between 25 October and 25 December 1944, was 163IAP. Pilots were ordered not to use the engine at combat speed since this reduced its life to two or three flights only. Nevertheless, in the course of 398 sorties, the unit claimed 27 Focke-Wulf Fw 190As and one Bf 109G-2, for the loss of two Yaks in dogfights, one to flak and four in accidents. The Yak-9U contributed greatly toward the Soviets gaining air superiority, and the Germans learned to avoid the Yaks 'without antenna mast'.