In the 1990s, the Yakovlev Design Bureau collaborated with Lockheed Martin under a contract on the subject of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft against the backdrop of devastation at the enterprise. Russian engineers advised the American side on a number of technical solutions, Rostec said.
The state corporation noted that this experience could have influenced the final appearance of the F-35B Lightning II.
Many experts are convinced that without this F-35B Lightning II, the only modern supersonic VTOL aircraft, simply would not have appeared in the form in which it exists today.
At the same time, Rostec emphasized that Yakovlev has preserved and developed its own competencies in the field of VTOL. Such aircraft remain relevant because they are able to operate without a full-fledged airfield infrastructure.
Earlier www1.ru wrote that Russian engineers have developed a kit for converting a light production aircraft into a hybrid VTOL aircraft. The unexpected solution is designed for aircraft with a high wing, struts and a front steering strut.