Army-2024 – UAC unveils the Yak-130M combat training aircraft
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the Rostec state corporation) unveiled the upgraded Yak-130M combat training aircraft or UTC (uchebno-trenirovochnyi samolet in Russian) at the Army-2024 exhibition
As reported at the UAC stand, the upgraded two-seat Yak-130M combat training aircraft is designed to train and maintain the skills of flight personnel, as well as to perform combat missions. The aircraft can be used for flight training, destruction of ground and surface targets, air targets, and electronic countermeasures.
The main differences between the Yak-130M and the basic Yak-130 are the installation of the BRLS-130R on-board radar developed by JSC Radar mms, the SOLT-130K optical-laser- thermal camera system hosted in a module, the President-S130 airborne defense system also hosted in a module, and the KSS-130 communications system. During the Yak-130M design phase the onboard systems and equipment were modernized and the range of air-launched weapons was expanded. The updated systems will allow the day/night all-weather use of the modernized aircraft for training and combat purposes.
According to UAC, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant is currently assembling experimental Yak-130Ms. A total of three modernized aircraft will be involved in flight tests. The main goal of the modernization is to expand the combat capabilities of the Yak-130 to increase its competitiveness in the international arms market. In addition to the Russian Air Force, the upgraded aircraft can be purchased by those countries that previously received the basic version of the Yak-130. Currently, the Russian Air Force fields 112 Yak-130, while on the export market the Algerian Air Force acquired 16 units, the Bangladesh Air Force 13, the Belarusian Air Force 11, the Vietnamese Air Force 12, the Laotian Air Force 4, the Myanmar Air Force 20, and the Iranian Air Force 2.
The maximum takeoff weight of the Yak-130M is 10,290 kg, maximum combat load being 2,500 kg. The aircraft is equipped with nine hard points. The Yak-130M is powered by an AI-222-25 turbofan engine. The maximum speed without external loads is 960 km/h, while the service ceiling is 12,500 m. The maximum flight range of the is 1,610 km, but when fitted with two external fuel tanks with a capacity of 450 liters this is increased to 2,265 km.
At the “Army-2024” exhibition, the Yak-130M was exhibited with a new BRLS-130R on-board radar and the SOLT-130K optical-laser-thermal camera system module.
In 2015, an attempt was made to create a version of the Yak-130 with a nose laser target designator-rangefinder for illuminating laser homing air-launched weapons. An experimental version of this aircraft was demonstrated at the MAKS-2015 International Aviation and Space Show. However, it must be assumed that this version was abandoned after military tests. Now, the illumination of air-launched laser-guided weapons will be provided by a suspended module hosting the SOLT-130K optical-laser-thermal camera system.
Photos by N. Morris
