Companies

JSC “Yakovlev Design Bureau”

Top Management

Shareholders of JSC “Yakovlev Design Bureau”:

• JSC “IRKUT Corporation” (75.46% of the shares)
• Private shareholders (24.54% of the shares)

Sphere of activities

• Engineering, testing and production of new types of civil and military aircraft;
• R&D.

Current projects:

• Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft and its modifications programme;
• МS-21 passenger short/middle-range aircraft family programme (in cooperation with JSC “IL” and JSC “IRKUT Corporation”);
• Yak-52M and Yak-152 primary training aircraft;
• Multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicles – PCHELA-1T and its modifications and the new UAV – “Albatros” and “Expert”.

History

Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev – one of the pioneers of the Soviet mass aircraft modelling, gliding and sport aviation – was born on April 1, 1906, in Moscow. Since 1924 A.S Yakovlev was a motor mechanic, since 1927 – a listener of Air Force Academy of RKKA (Workers' and Peasants' Red Army) of Zhukovskiy (currently is N.E. Zhukovskiy Military Engineering Academy).

“Yakovlev Design Bureau” has emerged in the process of creating of first AIR-1 aircraft as an amateur group of designers and workers not designed by any order. Yakovlev Design Bureau’s date of birth was considered to be May 12, 1927 – the beginning of AIR-1 aircraft flight tests. Earlier in 1924, A.S. Yakovlev constructed AVF-10 prize winner glider.

After graduation from the Academy in 1931 A.S. Yakovlev started working as an engineer at the Plant #39 where he headed the group of light aviation in 1932. On January 15, 1934, the production design group of A.S. Yakovlev at the Plant of #39 was separated to be an independent industrial-design unit under direct subordination of "Spetsaviatrest" and it began to be openly called Plant #115 the same year.

In 1935 A.S. Yakovlev was appointed Chief Designer and then – General Designer in 1956-1984. A.S. Yakovlev worked as Deputy of Minister of Aviation of the USSR during 1940-1946. Under his leadership there a lot of well-known types of aircraft including UT-2 and UT-1 first mass monoplane trainers, Yak-4 bomber, key World War II fighters Yak-1, Yak-7, Yak-9, Yak-3 and dozens of their modifications that constituted two thirds of Soviet fighters fleet in the Great Patriotic War (more than 36 thousand pieces) were developed. Yak fighter aircraft were among the best aircraft of their class. They were characterized by the optimum combination of speed, armament and maneuverability and played a major role in the defeat of Fascist-German aviation.

The era of jet engines began in the 1950-ies and that fact could not but affect the Yakovlev Design Bureau work. As a result, Yak-15, the first Soviet jet aircraft appeared. An entire series of jet aircraft followed it: Yak-17, Yak-23, Yak-25, Yak-25RV and Yak-27. Paratrooper flying gliders and helicopters were also under development these years and Yak-14 and Yak-24 entered the service.

Almost three decades the Design Bureau was engaged in the engineering of vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL). Yak-36, Yak-38 and Yak-141 aircraft development was a fruitful labor result of the Design Bureau’ staff.

The creation of Yak-28PM and Yak-28U supersonic aircraft was also one of the stages of the Design Bureau’s development. Yak-28 family aircraft (various modifications) were in service with the Russian aviation for more than 25 years.

Design Bureau was engaged not only in military aircraft development. After the Great Patriotic War an entire family of Yak-8, Yak-12, Yak-16 civil aircraft took off to the skies. Approximately at the same time the Design Bureau began development of training and combat training aircraft. Today, almost each Russian pilot makes his first “steps” in the sky on training aircraft made by Yakovlev Design Bureau. During its history, the Design Bureau has developed several similar models: YAK-11, Yak-18A, Yak-18T, Yak-30, Yak-32, Yak-50 and Yak-52.

The Design Bureau has devoted special attention to the development of passenger aircraft. As a result, Yak-40 passenger aircraft, developed in the 1970-s, became the world’s first jet aircraft for local airlines. Yak-42 was the most economical regional airliner of its time. Russian pilots conquered 69 first prizes at the World and Europeans aerobatic championships on Yak-18P, Yak-18PM, Yak-18PS, Yak-50 and Yak-55 aerobatic aircraft, and all in all 86 different kinds of records were established on 19 types of light passenger and military aircraft of “Yak” type.

“Yak” aircraft have been widely spread within the country and abroad, they were built under license in a number of countries. Hundreds of “Yak” light aircraft fly in many countries around the world now days. Yak-40 was the only Soviet passenger aircraft certified according to FAR-25 Western standards of airworthiness requirements. This airplane was bought by airlines from 18 countries of the world. 500 out of 1000 aircraft, built by the Design Bureau, are continuing to serve Russian and foreign airlines.

In 1959, the Plant #115 was renamed into P.O. Box 1303 enterprise and passed under the State Committee on Aviation Engineering’ control. The Plant was appropriated the open designation – the Moscow Machine Building Plant “Speed” and conditional designation – P.O. Box M-5050 enterprise in 1966. In 1989 the Plant’s open designation – the Moscow Machine Building Plant “Speed” was preserved and conditional designation was abolished.

In1990, the Plant was appropriated A.S. Yakovlev’s name – the Moscow Machine Building Plant “Speed” named after A.S. Yakovlev, founder and leader of Design Bureau until 1984. In 1984-1990 A.A. Levinskikh headed Design Bureau, in 1991-1994 – A.N. Dondukov, and since 1994 the head of Design Bureau is General Director-Designer – O.F. Demchenko.

Moscow Machine Building Plant “Speed” named after A.S. Yakovlev was reincorporated as a joint stock company at the end of 1992 and received a new name – JSOT “Experimental Design Bureau named after A. S. Yakovlev”. Within the framework of current RF legislation Moscow Registration Chamber registered the new edition of the Charter of the society with a new name – Joint Stock Company “Yakovlev Design Bureau” in 1997.

JSC “Yakovlev Design Bureau” is really a research enterprise: for its lifetime it has produced more than 200 types and modifications of flying vehicles and over 100 of them were in serial production. That fact confirms the great personal contribution of the labor collective to Russian and world military aviation.

“Yak” aircraft are in permanent serial production and operation since 1932. For more than 70 years of Yakovlev Design Bureau’s activity 70 000 “Yak" aircraft were produced. That is the biggest number in Russian aircraft industry. Before World War II 4 000 "Yak" aircraft were produced, in 1941-1945 – 40 000, after the War – 26 000. Among all aircraft constructed there were 41 000 combat and 29 000 civil aircraft.

In recent years “Yakovlev Design Bureau” has successfully designed and developed “Yak”, training Complex including ground training facilities, simulators, Yak-152 primary trainer aircraft, Yak-130 military jet training aircraft, management and control of objective monitoring of training process system. All components of the Complex employ common software with an open architecture that makes it possible to increase the possibilities of Complex.

The creators of Russia’s first small size UAV “Pchela” were awarded the RF Government prize. “Pchela” is the only domestic unmanned aerial vehicle, which participated in military operations.

JSC “Yakovlev Design Bureau” is awarded Lenin, Revolution and Red Banner Orders and honorable diploma of FAI. Yak aircraft are awarded with Lenin and eight State Prizes as well as Russian government premium and Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Golden Medal.

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