Sokol starts deliveries of Yak-130 combat trainers to Russian Air Force

[Mig-29]

Sokol, a Nizhny Novgorod-based aircraft maker, has started deliveries of new Yak-130 combat trainers to the Russian Air Force, the company said on Thursday.

The Yak-130 single-seat aircraft can be used as a light strike aircraft or as a trainer for fourth and fifth generation fighters. With its production line launched in May 2003, the plane is also being marketed for export.

"We delivered the first Yak-130 in late July, and it will be showcased at the MAKS-2009 air show [on August 18-23 near Moscow]," said Alexander Karezin, Sokol's general director.

In April 2002, the Yak-130 was chosen as a basic aircraft for Russian Air Force pilot training. Under an initial contract with the Defense Ministry, Sokol will deliver a total of 12 Yak-130s by the end of 2010.

The Russian Air Force is planning to commission about 200 Yak-130s to equip four air regiments in the future.

The Yak-130 is a highly maneuverable aircraft with an extended range of about 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) and a maximum speed of 1,060 km/h (600 m/h) in level flight. It can carry a combat payload of up to 3,000 kg (6,600 pounds), consisting of a variety of Russian and Western developed weapons.

According to Russian Air Force commander, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, the first Yak-130 trainers will be used for pilot training at the Krasnodar Military Flight School.

Russia will also start deliveries of 16 Yak-130s to Algeria in 2010.

ASIAN DEFENCE: Sokol starts deliveries of Yak-130 combat trainers to Russian Air Force

 

[Mig-29]

August 17, 2009: The Russian Air Force has begun receiving its new jet trainer, the Yak-130 [VIDEO]. Deliveries to the first export customer, Algeria, will begin next year. Four years ago, Russia decided to standardize on the Yak-130 jet trainer, and production began two years ago. So far, the Russian Air Force has bought 56. Algeria has ordered 16. The Russian Air Force says it will eventually buy another 200 of them to equip four regiments of light attack aircraft.

The Yak-130 is capable of performing many of the tricky maneuvers of Russias top fighters (like the Su-27, MiG-29 and many modern Western fighters). It can also perform as a light bomber. The nine ton aircraft has a max speed of 1,000 kilometers an hour and a flight lifetime of 10,000 hours in the air. The pilot instructor and trainee sit one behind the other, and two engines make it a safer aircraft to fly. The Yak-130 can carry an external load of three tons (of bombs, missiles or fuel tanks). Max range, on internal fuel, is 2,000 kilometers. Russia is selling the aircraft to foreign customers for about $15 million.

Procurement: Yak-130 Enters Service