The upgraded aircraft with new systems and weapons may be used for training and combat purposes on a 24/7 basis and in adverse weather conditions

Photo: United Aircraft Corporation

Yakovlev included in United Aircraft Corporation has shown an advanced solution at the Army-2024 International Military and Technical Forum — the Yak-130M aircraft created on the basis of the Yak-130 training and combat aircraft. The main purpose of the modernization is to enhance combat capabilities of the aircraft in order to improve its competitiveness on the global market.

“We expect that the upgraded Yak-130M will be of interest primarily for our foreign partners who are not planning to purchase heavier and more expensive aircraft. The ideas embodied in the upgraded aircraft will allow the weapon structure to be expanded considerably compared with the traditional Yak-130. It will, in particular, include additional air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface high precision air-launched weapons with satellite and laser guidance systems. Actually, the aircraft will become a fully functional lightweight fighter while keeping its training functions,” said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation.

“We have already started fabricating the Yak-130M prototypes at Irkutsk aircraft factory. We are planning to built a total of three aircraft prototypes. Individual engineering solutions for the Yak-130M are tested on the existing aircraft prototypes,” pointed out Andrey Boginsky, General Director of Yakovlev.

Systems that considerably improve the aircraft functionality are introduced into the Yak-130M configuration: BRLS-130R airborne radar, SOLT-130K optical laser thermal imaging system, Prezident-S130 aircraft defence suite and KSS-130 communications system.