Yakovlev unveils new Yak-130M advanced trainer and light combat aircraft
August 17, 2024
PJSC Yakovlev, a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) unveiled a new combat variant of the Yak-130 at Russia’s Army-2024 exhibition.
The Yak-130M is a dual-purpose training aircraft and light fighter and has expanded combat capabilities compared to its predecessor. The new variant is intended to be more competitive in the international export market, competing with aircraft like the South Korean FA-50 and Italy’s Leonardo M-346
Vladimir Artyakov, Deputy Director General of Rostec, said that the upgraded Yak-130M aircraft will now feature air-to-air missiles and high-precision air-to-ground weapons with satellite and laser guidance systems. The aircraft can carry a 2,500 kg payload on nine hardpoints.
The Yak-130M incorporates a BRLS-130R onboard radar station, an SOLT-130K EO/IR/laser television system, the President-S130 self defence system, and a KSS-130 communications system.
Yakovlev have completed the design documentation required for the production of three edicated Yak-130M prototypes, which have already been requested by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Andrey Boginsky, the CEO of PJSC Yakovlev, said that the assembly of these experimental aircraft has already begun at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. Some elements of the new variant are currently being evaluated on converted older Yak-130s.
The original Yakovlev Yak-130 was designed to train pilots for 4th generation fighters like the MiG-29 and Su-27. The aircraft first flew in 1996 and entered service with the Russian Air Forces in 2009.
About 200 examples of the Yak-130 have been produced, and the type serves the Russian Aerospace Forces and has also been exported to Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
