[2] The project was cancelled and no prototype was built due to a lack of funds and interest by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
In 1996–1997, the aircraft was offered to the customer, but the project remained unclaimed, primarily for financial reasons, and also due to the lack of certainty of the Russian Ministry of Defense under the LFI program.
Yakolvev might built a new vertical takeoff and landing fighter for the two 44,000-ton Project 23900 Ivan Rogov amphibious assault ships currently under construction.
The design was for a single lift-propulsion motor with a mechanical drive to a lifting fan installed behind the cockpit.
The practical ceiling for the Yak-201 is 15,000 m. Among the armament, it was decided to use a GSh-301 rifle cannon with 120 rounds of ammunition, and to install air-to-air type R-77 long-range or medium-range at four points of suspension.