Evolved from the Yak-1, the Yakovlev Yak-3 was the ultimate development of the Yak series of fighters and one of the finest Soviet aircraft of the war. Designed to improve the combat characteristics of its predecessor, the Yak-3 was optimized for low-level dogfighting was incredibly successful in that role to the point that Luftwaffe units were advised to avoid combat with it at less than 5,000 meters! Major modifications included airframe redesigns, lower weight achieved through a wood and metal structure covered by plywood, increased visibility, and improved aerodynamics which made it among of the most maneuverable fighters of the war. In fact, it was considered by pilots as superior even to the Spitfire variants which were given to the USSR as lend-lease (little wonder that the French pilots of the Normandy-Niemen squadron chose the Yak-3 over all other available Allied fighters and was also used extensively by Polish pilots). In one particular encounter, a force of 18 Yak-3s faced off against 30 Luftwaffe fighters and managed to shoot down 15 with only one loss of their own. Overall, the Yak-3 was the finest testament of how the Soviet aircraft industry was capable of producing designs on par with those built in the West, a lesson which would not go unnoticed in the decades that followed.

The Yak-3 was developed directly from the Yak-1M experimental light-weight fighter. No major variants were produced during the war although a number of experimental models were developed among which was the Yak-3U with an ASh-82FN engine. After the war, the Yak-3-107 was introduced which was fitted with a M-107 engine with a number of additional aircraft built with an all-metal airframe and others with increased armament.