The Yak-1 was the first combat aircraft designed by Alexander Yakovlev's construction bureau and was produced from 1940 to 1944, with a total of 8,700 aircraft buil. The Yak-1B variant was a colmination of all 1942 efforts to improve the Yak-1. Work began at TsAGI, where research into improving the water and oil radiators, and work to increase the top speed. Tactical characteristics of the Yak-1 were significantly improved as a result, leading to Yakovlev's request to the Minister of Aviation to mass-produce a test batch of 20 improved aircraft for combat testing at the front.
However the improvements looked so good on paper that a test batch was skipped, and a Defence Committe Directive dated 11th August 1942 ordered a new and improved Yak-1 into mass production. Improved armament triggers and a cockpit with improved rearward were welcomed by Soviet pilots and became standart on all contemporary Soviet fighter planes.