The Yakovlev Yak-9 was a single-seat, single-engine fighter used by the DPRK and PRC Air Forces during the Korean War. The Yak-9 entered production during the summer of 1942, and deliveries to operational units began in October 1942. The Yak-9 was widely used by Soviet forces throughout the remainder of World War Two, and many variants with a wide variety of armament were developed. Production of the Yak-9 ended in 1946 after 16,769 had been built.
The Yak-9P was a post-war development of the Yak-9. It was armed with a 23mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine-guns and could carry up to 440 lbs. of bombs. It had a 1,650-hp engine enabling it to reach a speed of 434 mph. Yak-9Ps were supplied to both the DPRK and the PRC. At the beginning of the Korean War the DPRK Air Force possessed 79 Yak-9Ps, which comprised its fighter regiment. Although a good combat aircraft the DPRK’s Yak-9Ps were out-numbered by the US Air Force and Navy, out-classed by their jet aircraft, and unable to operate with its airbases destroyed. The Yak-9P was rarely used after the first month of the Korean War.
