- Yes
- No
Yak-130 (Source)
Background:
In the mid-1990s, the government of the Russian Federation, successor to the dissolved Soviet Union (dissolved in 1991), issued a demand to the national aeronautical industry for the development of an advanced next-generation trainer aircraft. The goal was to replace the aging Czechoslovak-made Aero L-29 Delfín and Aero L-39 Albatros, which were incapable of preparing pilots for 4th and 5th-generation fighters like the Su-27 and the future Su-57. Five design bureaus (OKB) submitted proposals:
Myasishchev M-200 (Source): A project focused on high speed and range, though with high technical complexity;
Sukhoi S-54 (Source): A modular concept emphasizing versatility, but criticized for operational costs;
Mikoyan MiG-AT (Source): A twin-engine trainer with potential conversion for light attack missions;
Yakovlev Yak-UTS (Source): A training platform with a digital architecture and the ability to emulate flight profiles of multiple fighters — One other proposal was briefly mentioned but discarded.
After technical and economic evaluations, only the MiG-AT and Yak-UTS projects advanced in 1991, aligning with the Russian Air Force’s (VVS) requirements for a fleet of 1,200 aircraft by 2010. The Yak-UTS was selected due to its integrated fly-by-wire system, which allowed simulation of flight characteristics of Western (e.g., F-16) and Russian (e.g., Su-30) fighters, as well as a modular structure for future upgrades. Following the USSR’s collapse, the Yakovlev Design Bureau (JSC A.S. Yakovlev) faced budget constraints and sought international partnerships. In 1993, it signed an agreement with Aermacchi S.p.A. (Italy) to co-fund and co-develop the project, named Yak/AEM-130. The first prototype, Yak-130D (registration RA-43130 at Flickr), was built at the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod and unveiled in June 1995. Its maiden flight occurred on April 25, 1996, at Zhukovsky Airfield, piloted by chief test pilot Andrey Sinitsyn, completing a 38-minute test.
Yakovlev-Aermacchi Yak/AEM-130 (Source, archived) Collaboration with Aermacchi enabled the integration of Western technologies, such as inertial navigation systems and mission simulation software. However, strategic disagreements emerged: Yakovlev prioritized multirole capabilities (training + combat), while Aermacchi focused on a pure trainer. By 2000, the partnership dissolved, resulting in two distinct aircraft: the Yak-130 (Russia) and the M-346 Master (Italy). On April 10, 2002, after comparative testing, VVS Commander-in-Chief General Vladimir Mikhailov declared the Yak-130 the winner over the MiG-AT, highlighting: Quadriplex Fly-by-Wire Control System: Allowed adjustment of flight parameters to emulate 20 aircraft types, including the Su-57; Open-Architecture Avionics: Integrated three multifunction LCD screens (developed by RPKB Ramenskoye), a next-gen HUD, and compatibility with helmet-mounted sight systems (HMSS); Combat Capability: Nine hardpoints for up to 3,000 kg of ordnance, compatible with R-73 air-to-air missiles, KAB-500 guided bombs, and SPR-2 radar-jamming pods.
Yak-130 (Source) Serial production was approved on April 30, 2004, with the first pre-series units (Nos. 01–03) built in Nizhny Novgorod. The Yak-130 debuted internationally at the 2005 Paris Air Show (registration RA-43150 at OneSpotter, information is unclear), attracting foreign interest. After 1,800 hours of operational testing—including trials in extreme temperatures (-50°C to +50°C) and unpaved runways — the Yak-130 was officially commissioned on February 19, 2010, with an initial order of 62 units for the VVS.
Specifications:
Yak-130 (Source)
- Weaponry
Yak-130 weapon diagram (Source) p. 12
- Features
Yak-130 features diagram (Source) p. 7
- Air performance
Yak-130 performance diagram (Source) pg. 8-9
- Miscellaneous
Yak-130 front cabin (Source)
Yak-130 rear cabin (Source)
Yak-130 equipping four R-73 IR AAM and two KAB-500Kr TV Guided bomb (Source)
Images
Yak-130 at MAKS-2017 (Source)
Yak-130 at MAKS-2017 (Source)
Yak-130 at MAKS-2015 (Source)
AL-55 engine (equipped in the Yakovlev Yak-130 (Source)
Yak-130 at MAKS-2013 (Source)
Yak-130 at MAKS-2007 (Source)
Sources
“Yak-130 combat trainer” by A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau, 2003 (archived) at Wayback Machine — A.S.Yakovlev designe bureau –:– programs –:– new –:– Yak-130
“Yak-130 combat trainer” by H. Small at SlidePlayer, 2016 at https://slideplayer.com/ — Yak-130 Combat Trainer. - ppt download
“ARMS INVESTIGATION Russian Yak-130 aircraft in Myanmar” by Myanmar Witness at Centre for Information Resilience, 2022 at https://www.info-res.org/ — ARMS INVESTIGATION Russian YAK-130 aircraft in Myanmar - Centre for Information Resilience
“Yakovlev Yak-130 Russian military aircraft” by Wikiwand at https://www.wikiwand.com/ — Yakovlev Yak-130 - Wikiwand
“Russian Air Force recieves second batch of Yak-130 trainer jets” by Airforce Technology, 2012 at https://www.airforce-technology.com/ — https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsrussian-air-force-yak-130/?cf-view&cf-closed
“Yak-130” by Airforce Technology, 2021 at https://www.airforce-technology.com/ — https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/yak_130/
“Yakovlev Yak-130” by WeaponsSystems.net at https://weaponsystems.net/ — Yakovlev Yak-130 | Weaponsystems.net
“Iran receives Yak-130 advanced jet trainer, light attack aircraft” by G. Jennings, 2023 at https://www.janes.com/ — https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/iran-receives-yak-130-advanced-jet-trainer-light-attack-aircraft
“El Yak-130 en Singapur” by Charly015, 2014 at https://charly015.blogspot.com/ — Análisis Militares: El Yak-130 en Singapur
“Gun Pods - Contenedores de armas de tubo del mundo” by ariel, 2017 at https://defensanacional.foroactivo.com/ — Gun Pods - Contenedores de armas de tubo del mundo
“Russia’s tenacious trainer” by A. Mladenov, 2018 at https://www.keymilitary.com/ — https://www.keymilitary.com/article/russias-tenacious-trainer
“Yak-130 gun pod” by urielventis, 2013 at https://www.deviantart.com/ — Yak-130 gun pod by urielventis on DeviantArt
“Yakovlev Yak-130” by Wikipedia, 2013 at https://en.wikipedia.org/ — Yakovlev Yak-130 - Wikipedia
“ROSJA KUPI KOLEJNE JAKI-130” by Ł. Golowanow, 2016 at https://www.konflikty.pl/ — Rosja kupi kolejne Jaki-130 | Konflikty.pl
“Infographic: Máy bay huấn luyện Yak-130 VN có thể mua” by V. Hùng, 2015 at https://kienthuc.net.vn/ — Infographic Máy bay huấn luyện Yak-130 VN có thể mua | Báo Tri thức và Cuộc sống - TIN TỨC PHỔ BIẾN KIẾN THỨC 24H
“Yak-130: News” by Admin, 2009 at https://www.russiadefence.net/ — Yak-130: News p. 13
“Acordo Brasil X Rússia apresenta novidades na área militar” by infodefensa.com, 2013 at Portada Brasil — Acordo Brasil X Rússia apresenta novidades na área militar
“Military Knowledge: Yak-130 Fighter Trainer” by IslamicWorldNews, 2023 at https://english.iswnews.com/ — https://english.iswnews.com/30422/military-knowledge-yak-130-fighter-trainer/
