Yakovlev Yak-32

The Yakovlev Yak‑32 was a Soviet single‑seat jet trainer and light attack aircraft developed in the early 1960s by the Yakovlev Design Bureau. Intended as a smaller, more economical companion to the two‑seat Yak‑30, the Yak‑32 first flew on 7 July 1960 and entered limited production the following year. Powered by a single Tumansky RD‑9B afterburning turbojet, the aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 1,050 km/h (650 mph) and a service ceiling of 12,500 meters, giving pilots exposure to high‑performance jet handling without the cost of larger frontline fighters. Its compact airframe, all‑metal construction, and simple yet robust hydraulic‑controlled surfaces made it ideal for elementary jet instruction and tactical reconnaissance. It could carry up to 500 kg of ordnance on underwing hardpoints, including rockets and small bombs, proving its dual‑role capability. Although only a handful were built and it never entered full operational service, the Yak‑32 demonstrated Yakovlev’s ability to scale jet technology down to a trainer role, influencing later designs such as the Yak‑32M and the Yak‑130. The aircraft’s brief service highlighted the Soviet emphasis on rapid pilot transition to supersonic flight and contributed to the evolution of jet training doctrine worldwide.

Yakovlev

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