Yakovlev Yak-38U FORGER-B

The Yakovlev Yak-38U (NATO reporting name: Forger-B) is the two-seat conversion trainer variant of the Soviet Navy's first operational VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) strike fighter, the Yak-38 Forger.
Design and Development- Two-Seat Configuration: To accommodate a second cockpit for the instructor, the fuselage was significantly enlarged and lengthened to 17.76 meters. This resulted in a distinct, "drooped" nose appearance compared to the single-seat version.
VTOL System: Like the standard model, the Yak-38U used a unique (and often criticized) three-engine arrangement: one R-27V-300 turbojet for main thrust and two dedicated RD-36-35FVR lift engines mounted vertically behind the cockpit.
Safety Features: It was equipped with an automatic ejection system that would fire if one of the engines failed during a vertical phase, or if the aircraft exceeded a certain pitch/roll angle.
Operational Service- Purpose: Its primary role was to train pilots for the difficult task of landing on the moving decks of Kiev-class aircraft carriers.
Production: A total of 38 units were produced between 1975 and 1985.
Users: Served exclusively with the Soviet Naval Aviation and later briefly with the Ukrainian Navy after the collapse of the USSR.