Do some Soviet / Russian combat aircraft have auto ejection seats?

[Mr King]

The reason I ask is this video at the link. The pilot is flying along and then suddenly is ejected without any apparent signs of issues. I have heard different theories for this video, one stated the aircraft was hit by a manpad, another suggested he hit power lines.

 

 

 

[bojan]

Hit power lines, cutting of good part of the tail.

[Tim Sielbeck]

8 minutes ago, bojan said:

Hit power lines, cutting of good part of the tail.

I agree:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SdIVSa67-Td3Ndx_7kqO6Ao-AIr7jO-0/view?usp=sharing

[bojan]

Original was posted on Fighterbomber telegram channel (there is mark on all those vids of his channel), later comment was added by the pilot that ejected. He hit power lines during training flight, managed to climb somewhat, but airplane became uncontrollable so he punched out.

 

[Yama]

Famously, Yak-38 VTOL jet had automated ejection seat: during hovering phase of takeoff/landing, any unexpected change of thrust would have dipped the jet over so fast that the pilot was unlikely to have sufficient time to punch out.

First ejection was accidental, due to malfunction of the sensors, but overall the ejection system proved successful and saved many pilots. Harrier would have needed one as well.

[Stuart Galbraith]

On 4/9/2025 at 11:06 PM, Yama said:

Famously, Yak-38 VTOL jet had automated ejection seat: during hovering phase of takeoff/landing, any unexpected change of thrust would have dipped the jet over so fast that the pilot was unlikely to have sufficient time to punch out.

First ejection was accidental, due to malfunction of the sensors, but overall the ejection system proved successful and saved many pilots. Harrier would have needed one as well.

REALLY popular at airshows as a result. The crowd were always waiting for the pilot to punch out...

[Yama]

It's still better than those where the pilots don't punch out