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Yakovlev Yak-130

The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a subsonic, two-seat, advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft.

Development
In the early 1990s, the Soviet government asked the industry to develop a new aircraft to replace the Czech-made Aero L-29 Delfín and Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainers. Five design bureaus put forward proposals. Among them were the Sukhoi S-54, Myasishchev M-200, Mikoyan MiG-AT, and Yakovlev Yak-UTS. In 1991, the other proposals were dropped and only the MiG-AT and Yak-UTS remained. The air forces of the newly independent Russia estimated that its requirement would be about 1,000 aircraft. Development of Yak-UTS started in 1991, and the design was completed in September 1993. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yakovlev was compelled to look for a foreign partner. After having entered discussions in 1992, it agreed the next year with the Italian company Aermacchi to jointly develop the plane, which now became the AEM/YAK-130D. Aermacchi would be responsible for the project's financial and technical support. The first prototype, dubbed AEM/YAK-130D, was built by Sokol at Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and was publicly unveiled in June 1995. The aircraft made its first flight on 25 April 1996 from Zhukovsky Airport at the hands of Yakovlev chief test pilot Andrey Sinitsyn. In 2000, differences in priorities between the two firms brought about an end to the partnership, with each developing the aircraft independently. The Italian version was named M-346. Yakovlev received US$77 million, in the form of a partial write-off of the USSR/Russian debt towards Italy and for the legal right to use some of the technical documents of the aircraft. The Yak-130, however, was said to be superior, as it could serve the dual role of a trainer and combat jet. In April 2002, the Yak-130 was chosen as the winner of the tender for trainer aircraft for basic and advanced pilot training, beating the MiG-AT. By then, the Russian Air Force had ordered 10 Yak-130s. The total cost of research and development, which included the construction and testing of the four preproduction aircraft, had amounted to some $200 million, 84% of which was financed by Yakovlev and the rest by the Russian government. Plans to develop a light-attack aircraft based on the Yak-130 came to a halt in the late 2011. Dubbed Yak-131, the aircraft failed to meet critical pilot safety requirements put forward by the Russian Air Force. The air force had instead shifted focus to a dedicated replacement for its Su-25s instead. ==Design==
Design
The Yak-130 is an advanced pilot-training aircraft, able to replicate characteristics of Russian fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. This is possible through the use of open architecture digital avionics compliant with a 1553 Databus, a full digital glass cockpit, four-channel digital fly-by-wire system (FBWS), and instructor-controlled and variable FBWS handling characteristics and embedded simulation. It has a head-up display and a helmet-mounted sighting system, with a double GPS/GLONASS receiver updating an inertial reference system for highly accurate navigation and precision targeting. According to its chief designer, Konstantin Popovich, the plane was tested with "all airborne weapons with a weight of up to 500 kg that are in service in the Russian Air Force". The large canopies are sideways hinged. The combat training suite on the Yak-130 includes simulated and real firing systems with air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, bomb dropping, gun firing, and on-board self-protection systems. ==Orders and deliveries==
Orders and deliveries
Firm orders Russia In 2005, the Russian Air Force ordered 12 Yak-130s. The Russian Aerospace Forces intended to buy at least 72 Yak-130s, enough to equip four training regiments. In November 2011, the Russian Defence Ministry signed a contract with Irkut Corporation for 65 additional aircraft – 55 firm orders plus 10 options. Deliveries were expected to be completed by 2017. In October 2012, the Russian Air Force took delivery of the first Yak-130 built by the Irkutsk plant. In February 2014, Irkut Corporation revealed a contract with the MoD to supply additional Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainers to the air force. According to Irkut president Oleg Demchenko, the company in December signed a contract with the MoD on the delivery of 12 Yak-130s to form a new aerobatics team. At the same time, a second contract for 10 more aircraft for the Russian Naval Aviation was signed. Algeria Algeria was the first export customer for the Yak-130, ordering 16 aircraft in March 2006. Their delivery started only a few months after the arrival of the first Yak-130s in the Russian Air Force, in 2011, and the order was completed the next year. Later the order was reduced to 16 aircraft. The first batch of six aircraft was delivered on 20 September 2015. Belarus In December 2012, the government of Belarus signed an agreement with Russia to provide four Yak-130s to Belarus by April 2015. Another order for four aircraft was placed in August 2015, and these were delivered in November 2016. Laos Laos ordered 10 Yak-130s in August 2017. Deliveries started in 2018. Iran Iran acquired Yak-130 jet trainers. The first Yak-130 aircraft were delivered to Iran in September 2023, with photos showing at least two jets arriving at Isfahan's Shahid Babaei Air Base. Subsequent imagery and reporting suggest more may have been delivered later. Exact numbers and deal cost were not publicly disclosed. These jet trainers are being utilized by the Iranian Air Force for various roles, including drone interception patrols and air-to-air combat missions. Potential orders In April 2012, Irkut Corporation president Alexey Fedorov claimed it had "more than ten potential customers". Argentina In 2021, Russia offered the Argentine Air Force a batch of 15 MiG-29 fighters and another batch of 12 Su-30 fighters and sought also the sale of Yak-130 training jet and Mil Mi-17 helicopters. Bolivia Bolivia is considering the Yak-130 as a candidate for the replacement of its retired Lockheed T-33s. Kazakhstan Two rounds of negotiations with Russia regarding a potential order for Yak-130s took place in 2010 and 2012. No firm orders came out of it, but the Yak-130 may be bought to replace Kazakhstan's current Aero L-39C trainers, at the end of their service life. Uruguay The Uruguayan Air Force is considering the aircraft for the future replacement of the A-37 with presumably used examples of the F-5 Freedom Fighter as another possible candidate. Cancelled and unimplemented orders Libya Libya placed an order for six planes. Deliveries were expected in 2011–2012, Syria Syria had agreed to purchase 36 aircraft, but delivery of these was postponed by Russia due to the conflict in Syria. In May 2014 Russia announced that it would supply Syria with Yakovlev Yak-130s. Syria was expected to receive nine aircraft by the end of 2014, 12 in 2015, and 15 in 2016, for a total of 36 airplanes. However, as of 2019, no deliveries had taken place. ==Operational history==
Operational history
The first prototype, designated AEM/YAK-130D and registered as RA-43130, made its maiden flight on 25 April 1996 at Zhukovsky. Its use has been criticised after verifiable evidence of military air strikes against civilians emerged online. In the 2026 Iran conflict, Iran used its Yak-130s to complement MiG-29s in air defence duties over Tehran. An Israeli F-35 Adir was confirmed to have shot down a Yak-130, reportedly in Tehran airspace, making it the first manned aircraft air-air killed for the F-35. == Accidents and incidents ==
Accidents and incidents
• 26 June 2006: A Yak-130 prototype crashed in the Ryazan region. Both pilots ejected safely without injuries. • 29 May 2010: A preseries Yak-130 crashed at Lipetsk Air Base. The accident occurred during testing. Both pilots ejected; their condition was satisfactory. There were no casualties or injuries to people on the ground. • 15 April 2014: A Yak-130 crashed in the Astrakhan region, 25 km from Akhtubinsk near the village of Bataevka. Both pilots ejected, but Lt. Col. Sergei Seregin was killed. The cause of the accident was a malfunction. The Yak-130 was owned by the 1080th Red Banner Aviation Centre for Retraining of Personnel named after V. P. Chkalov at Borisoglebsk. No casualties or damage to those on the ground were sustained. • 11 July 2017: A Bangladesh Air Force Yakovlev Yak-130 crashed at Lohagara in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong District. Both pilots were unharmed. • 27 December 2017: Two Bangladesh Air Force Yakovlev Yak-130s crashed at Maheshkhali Island in Cox's Bazar due to a mid-air collision. The official report states that the accident happened during the breaking of formation at a training exercise. All four pilots were rescued alive. • 19 May 2021: A Belarusian Air Force Yakovlev Yak-130 crashed in Baranavichy, causing minor damage to one house in the city. Both pilots ejected, but were killed. • 18 February 2022: Anti-Junta People's Defence Forces in Myanmar claimed they had damaged two Yak-130s at an air force base in Hmawbi. • 9 May 2024: A Bangladesh Air Force Yak-130 crashed in Chattogram. Bangladeshi officials attributed the crash to a possible mechanical failure, although the CCTV footage of the incident appears to show the crash was caused by a high-risk stunt. The CCTV video shows the aircraft performing three aileron rolls while rapidly descending before impacting the runway right-side-up and without landing gear. The aircraft then caught fire and bounced upwards, taking off again. Both crew members ejected and were rescued alive. The pilot died in hospital, while the co-pilot sustained serious injuries. • 3 October 2024: A Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force Yak-130 crashed during training exercise in Xiangkhouang Province. Both pilots died. • 10 October 2024: A Russian Air Force Yak-130 crashed in Volgograd Oblast. The pilot ejected from the aircraft • 6 November 2024: A Vietnam People's Air Force Yak-130, belonging to the 940th Air Training Regiment, crashed while conducting a training flight over the skies of Bình Định Province. Both pilots ejected from the aircraft and were rescued alive. • 28 January 2026: A Vietnam People's Air Force Yak-130, belonging to the 940th Air Training Regiment, crashed while conducting a training flight in Đắk Lắk Province. The pilot ejected safely. • 4 March 2026: An Israeli Air Force F-35I Adir shot down an Iranian Air Force Yakovlev Yak 130 over the skies of Tehran after the aircraft engaged in a dogfight. ==Variants==
Variants
;Yakovlev Yak-130D:Yak-130 prototype. This version will have cockpit and engine armour, a GSh-30-1 autocannon, and either the Phazotron Kopyo radar with mechanical or electronic beam scanning, or the Tikhomirov NIIP Osa passive phased array radar ;Yakovlev Yak-133 :Light Strike Aircraft for LUS. The project was canceled in the early 1990s. ;Yakovlev Yak-133IB: Fighter-bomber. ;Yakovlev Yak-133PP: Electronic countermeasure platform. ;Yakovlev Yak-133R: Tactical reconnaissance variant. ;Yakovlev Yak-135: Four-seat VIP transport. ; Yakovlev Yak-130M: Modernized version with more weapons and equipment which was unveiled in August 2024. The suite includes the BRLS-130R Airborne AESA radar, the SOLT-130K electro-optical/laser targeting system, the President-S130 self-protection suite, and the new KSS-130 communications link. This fit increases target detection range, improves weapons delivery accuracy, and strengthens resistance to electronic warfare. The podded defensive aids suite is intended to counter air- and surface-launched missile threats. Modernization also targets the powerplant. At the Army-2023 forum, United Engine Corporation (UEC) unveiled the SM-100 engine, derived from the AI-222-25. The new engine delivers 20% higher thrust with no increase in weight or dimensions and doubles service life. The gains result from redesigned compressor, combustor, and turbine modules. == Operators ==
Operators
'''''' • Algerian Air Force – 18 in service. '''''' • Bangladesh Air Force – 12 in service. Four lost in training accidents. '''''' • Belarusian Air Force – 11 in service. '''''' • Ethiopian Air Force – 6 in service. 4 on order. '''''' • Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force – operates an undisclosed number of Yak-130 jet trainer aircraft. One was shot down by an Israeli F-35I over Tehran. • Russian Naval Aviation – 10 on order. To replace the Aero L-39. '''''' • Vietnam People's Air Force – 10 in service, 2 losses due to training accident. ==Specifications (Yak-130)==
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