Pakistan Could Be Eyeing Russian Yak-130 Trainers

[Zarvan]

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Pakistan could be showing an interest in the Yak-130 trainer of Russia after concluding a deal to purchase four Mi-35 Hind helicopters.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) does not have a modern combat trainer though it operates advanced aircraft such as the American F-16, and the Pakistani-Chinese JF-17.

Industry sources told defenseworld.net that Pakistan Air Force officials have been talking to executives from Rosoboronexport and Irkut, the maker of the Yak-130 in various arms trade shows, though no definite intention to buy has been received.

The PAF does not have an advanced jet trainer to train its fighter pilots. It has a basic trainer, the propeller-driven Super Mushshak, which is a product of a Pakistani-Chinese partnership. For intermediate jet training it has the K-8 Karakorum and the Cessna T-17. Together with its Chinese partners, it manufactures the Super Mushak which is used as a basic trainer.

The sources said that the PAF was interested in the Yak-120 for it unique feature of mimicking the flying characteristics of a number of fighter aircraft such as the F-16 and JF-17 which will make the task of transiting from a trainer to a fighter a lot easy for pilots.

All these years, Rosoboronexport may have been cold to the idea of selling Pakistan advanced aircraft; firstly due to Russia's position of being India's dominant military equipment supplier and secondly for fear of its aircraft being falling into the hands of Chinese copycats.

However, falling defense orders from India on the one hand together with turmoil in some middle-east countries such as Libya and Syria which were among Russia's traditional customer base has forced it to hunt for alternate markets.

I am going to go crazy trainer after trainer but no news of any major Fighter coming @MastanKhan What the hell is going on ?

 

[Kompromat]

This will be a great induction to PAF if went ahead.

 

[Foxtrot-Bravo]

This jet is beauty but I seriously doubt how come PAF is planning to buy all of these jets, like this one, than the SU's deal and trainer jets. I mean we don't have sufficient funds to do that. Any credible sources? or just rumors?

 

[Zarvan]

Well 36 in our Air Force can provide best training to our pilots as well as best gifts to both Taliban and Indian Armored Brigade in case of war.

 

[fatman17]

Basic Flying Training - Mushshak
Primary Flying Training - T37B / C
Advanced Flying Training - K8P

 

[fatman17]

What they need is a dedicated LIFT aircraft even though they have 2 seat trainers for F16 Mirages F7/ F7PG but none for the JF17

 

[Blue Marlin]

I am going to go crazy trainer after trainer but no news of any major Fighter coming @MastanKhan What the hell is going on ?

you are getting fighterss and they are called the jf-17. pakistan does not have a lift trainer and this t38 sort of fits the bill. but i see the t38 as a temporary patch for something else. 36 jets is only 2 squadrons worth. so i see a large order for the lift program in the future

 

[Irfan Baloch]

you are getting fighterss and they are called the jf-17. pakistan does not have a lift trainer and this t38 sort of fits the bill. but i see the t38 as a temporary patch for something else. 36 jets is only 2 squadrons worth. so i see a large order for the lift program in the future

Chinese L-15 has been mentioned in the past for Pakistan but the story was never followed up

 

[Sulman Badshah]

Advanced Flying Training - K8P

K8 is giving intermediate combat training ...
we don't have advance trainers yet

 

[Blue Marlin]

Chinese L-15 has been mentioned in the past for Pakistan but the story was never followed up

true. the t-50 was the most prefered as it met your requirements, but the funds are a problem, so pakistan does have the option of the l15. personally i hope they either choose the t-50 as it high tech and brings new tech to you guys. or the yak 130 as it bring tech and also brings closer your relationship diplomatically and economically. i heard that if pakistan chooses the t-50 stx will build a shipyard in gwadar thats intresting

look what i found:

Pakistan
has also initiated search for the most sophisticated multi-role fifth generation plane and for the purpose Sweden, American, Turkish and some European planes are being examined. India is acquiring planes of fifth generation although it has reduced its order from 126 to 36 and that deal too is facing snags. It is expected that Pakistan would also acquire fifth generation fighter-bomber planes for its air force, the sources added.

the t38 Pakistan will be receiving will be the t-38m model

 

[Indus Falcon]

Is'nt the new PAF T-38 Talon Trainer more capable than this Yak.

Air Force is not my area of expertise. @Pakistanisage is the right person to answer this question

 

[VelocuR]

We don't want "Eyeing", "Rumors", "Gossip", "Looking", "Seeking", and "Expecting". 99.99% deals are failed.

Please let us know soon once papers are signed confirmly and accurately. Shake hands and MoU deals.


BTW, I doubt this news, Pakistan doesn't need it. Our expertise on F-16 and JF-17 are doing well without advanced trainers.

 

[princefaisal]

T-50 seems much better than Yak-130. The T-50 is designed to provide pilot training for current and next-generation fighters such as advanced F-16s, F-22s and the F-35 joint strike fighter.
Indonesia awarded a $400m contract to KAI in May 2011 to supply 16 T-50s.

When 15 AH-1Z Vipers costs a total value of $952 million, then I think its affordable for 16 T-50s in $400 million.

 

[Blue Marlin]

When 15 AH-1Z Vipers costs a total value of $952 million, then I think its affordable for 16 T-50s in $400 million.

no not really a t-50 is $25 million each,which is about the same as a block 1 jf17. the yak 130 is only $15 million note the capability is not that different as compared to the t50. yes the t50 is better but not worth 25 million each. may as well build more jf-17. i heard from an analyst that the dual seat jf17 will sort of have a lift capability as it a lightweight dual seater jet which is similar to the t50 in terms of spec. so the dual seat jf-17 will take a role in the high end lift training. go for the yak-130, if not the l15 is always there. it's also a good way to build relations

 

[Quwa]

PAF isn't getting T-38s, and it probably won't get the Yak-130. The benefit of a dedicated LIFT platform over a dual-seat JF-17 is marginal at best, and it probably isn't worth the cost of inducting another platform. Remember, this isn't just a question of buying just another fighter, but also about setting up the requisite infrastructure, training crew, opening a new maintenance stream, etc.

Honestly, the next trainer we'll see in PAF will be something like the TAI Hurkus, a turboprop that could replace the T-37 in the PAF. The performance benchmarks between the two are not very different, but the Hurkus would be much cheaper to operate and can even take on a wider variety of roles, e.g. precision air-to-surface strike.