FutureFlight
Russian Industry Lays Plans to Join eVTOL Revolution, But Some Remain Skeptical
Yakovlev is reported to be planning a civil version of its Yak-38 VTOL fighter.
Yak-38 eVTOL
Reports suggest that Yakovlev is actively considering plans to design a civil version of its Yak-38 eVTOL fighter aircraft shown here.

Russia’s aerospace industry plans to accelerate plans to design and produce new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for civil applications, according to recent statements made by several of the country’s so-called “design bureaus.” To date, the Russian industry’s efforts in this field have been mainly focused on military programs and, overall, it seems to be some way behind pioneers in the U.S. and western Europe.

Recent Russian media reports suggest that Yakovlev is actively considering plans to design a civil version of its Yak-38 eVTOL fighter aircraft. However, Sergey Kuznetsov, head of the company’s scientific and technical information department, refused to comment on the status of these reported plans.