Yak-130: News

eehnie wrote:

It maters in this sense. It is not right to call F-5 to the T-38. The original design was a trainer aircraft. The T-38 is not a fighter modified, while the F-5 is a trainer aircraft modified to be a fighter. The T-38 is not supersonic because it was developed from a fighter. The T-38 was designed supersonic to be a trainer, and has been successful.

This is not correct.
Northrops history on this is well known and has been in the public domain for decades. The info is freely available.

The original design by Northrop was called the N-156. It was designed as a fighter.
This followed on from their original lightweight fighter design called the N-102 Fang, but Northrop decided to make use of the brand new J85 engine, which was small enough to make the lightweight fighter even smaller. The aim of the design was to make a low cost, low maintenance fighter, and early designs were also directed to a potential naval application to operate off smaller carriers. The early carrier-borne light fighter versions had a two seater trainer derivitive due to the demanding nature of carrier ops.

While the fighter design of the main N-156 was basically being completed and being frozen, Northrop were informed of a new USAF trainer requirement, and decided to adapt and modify their lightweight N-156 fighter design and enter a modified version of the design into the USAF's requirement for a supersonic trainer. This then led Northrop to issue the designations N-156F for the original fighter role, and the N-156T for the trainer version, which had a series of differences from the fighter.
Because the N-156T was selected by the USAF as its supersonic trainer, Northrop decided to put the original fighter version, now called the N-156F, on the backburner.
Even after Northrop devoted more resources to bringing the derived trainer N-156T (called the T-38 Talon in service) to the fore due to the order, the fighter version flew rapidly 1 month after the trainer.

To recap: The design was that of a lightweight, low cost, low maintenance fighter called the Northrop N-156. The N-156T was modified by Northrop from the N-156 light fighter design, and became known as the T-38. The N-156 light fighter was then redesignated N-156F, and was known as the F-5 once it was ordered and entered service.
The only reason the trainer T-38 flew first was because it was ordered first, causing Northrop to concentrate on getting it up to speed quicker.

So we have 79 Yak-130 delivered to the air force. +30 ordered
and 10 also ordered for the Navy

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1856251.html

Now in the US press

19 April, 2016 BY: Beth Stevenson London

Russia's defence ministry has ordered a further 30 Yak-130 twin-seat jet trainers for the nation's air force, Irkut announced on 18 April. The aircraft are expected to be delivered between early 2017 and the end of 2018. Irkut says the Yak-130s will be used for cadet training for a variety of roles, including weapons firing, and to learn the characteristics of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. The type could also be used as a light attack aircraft.

The contract was signed by deputy defence minister Yuri Borisov and Irkut president Oleg Demchenko.

Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer database shows the Russian air force already operates 77 Yak-130s, including 12 with an aerobatic display team. The nation's navy has a requirement for 10, with at least five the subject of firm orders.

Other operators include Algeria, Bangladesh and Belarus, with the latter two having more examples on order. Kazakhstan, Myanmar and Syria are among other future operators. Belarus received its first batch of the type in April 2015 and its air force in February carried out live firing tests of the Vympel R-73 short-range air-to-air missile. At the MAKS Moscow air show in August, Belarus commited to acquiring four more Yak-130s, doubling the original order, made in 2011.

Russia's latest Yak-130 contract follows a 4 April announcement its air force will acquire “more than 30” Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole fighters, with deliveries to be complete by the end of 2018. Signed by Borisov and Demchenko, the deal takes the number of Su-30SMs on order for Russia to 32, Fleets Analyzer says, with 56 delivered. The Russian navy has also received eight Su-30SMs, and has 20 more on order. Kazakhstan's air force also has four in service and Belarus will acquire the same number. The SM variant is a fourth-generation fighter derived from the baseline Su-30 and with enhanced electronics. Moscow received its first Su-30SMs in late 2012, following a 30-unit order signed in March of that year.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/russian-air-force-orders-more-yak-130-trainers-424362/

Myanmar, Latin America Interested in Russia’s Yak-130 Fighter Trainer

Myanmar, as well as a number of Latin American and North African states, are interested in purchasing Russia’s Yakovlev (Mitten) Yak-130 jet trainer, head of the International Cooperation Department of Russia’s state technology corporation Rostec, Viktor Kladov, said.

"The Yak-130 is being considered on various markets, a whole range of Latin American countries is eyeing it, it has already been supplied to Bangladesh, Myanmar has expressed great interest in it, as well as a number of countries in North Africa," Kladov told RIA Novosti.

He explained that one of the advantages of the two-seat advanced jet trainer is its ability to imitate the attack aircraft of any country and class, which makes it easier for pilots to prepare for flights on both Russian and foreign planes.

The Yak-130 lead-in fighter trainer is the world's only training aircraft with the aerodynamic configuration and subsonic flight performance characteristics of modern jet fighters. The two-seat reconnaissance and light attack jet has a combat load of up to 3,000 kilograms (about 6,614 pounds).

Don't know who produced that info graphic but they are lazy SOBs... they clearly cut and pasted some western chart... the air to ground missile is a Maverick missile and the bomb weights are US standard sizes... ie imperial weights rather than metric.

Russia does not use 454kg bombs or 227kg bombs... these are American bomb types better known as 1,000lb and 500lb bombs respectively. The Russian and Soviet equivalents are 500kgs and 250kgs.

Has anyone heard where the 3rd regiment of Yak-130's will be stationed?

I would think Tikhoretsk but have seen nothing yet.

Article on the Yak-130 unit being fully operational now at Armavir (200th). This is the second Yak-130 training unit after Borisoglebsk (209th) which also houses the new Yak-130 Demonstration Flight unit. Interesting to note that new pilots are receiving 50 hours of flight training first on the L.39C at Maikop or Tikhorestk before graduating to the Yak-130 for another 80 hours of flight training. Read several years back that there were plans for 3 Yak-130 training units. The aircraft for this third unit was just recently ordered but have not heard yet where they will be stationed. There is also a Naval Aviation training Yak-130 unit being formed at Yeisk.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1913071.html

franco wrote:Article on the Yak-130 unit being fully operational now at Armavir (200th). This is the second Yak-130 training unit after Borisoglebsk (209th) which also houses the new Yak-130 Demonstration Flight unit. Interesting to note that new pilots are receiving 50 hours of flight training first on the L.39C at Maikop or Tikhorestk before graduating to the Yak-130 for another 80 hours of flight training. Read several years back that there were plans for 3 Yak-130 training units. The aircraft for this third unit was just recently ordered but have not heard yet where they will be stationed. There is also a Naval Aviation training Yak-130 unit being formed at Yeisk.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1913071.html

Not surprised, that they still use L-39 before they go to Yak-130 trainers. I don't think pilots are ready to go from Yak-52 directly to Yak-130. They need a plane in between. For now it is L-39, in future most probably it will be SR-10. We will also see, what capabilities will new Yak-152 have. If their final capabilities will be near those of PC-9, than maybe students will be able to go directly from Yak-152 to Yak-130.

For now I didn't see any Yak-130 in naval aviation colors. I hope they will soon get them as I think naval order is next for production.

There are supposedly 5 Yak-130 already delivered to Naval Aviation. A look at the satellite image shows 3 sitting on the tarmac at Yeisk.

As for Yak-152, believe it will replace the Yak-52 and L.39C. The SR-10 seems to be a private venture with no government involvement.

franco wrote:There are supposedly 5 Yak-130 already delivered to Naval Aviation. A look at the satellite image shows 3 sitting on the tarmac at Yeisk.

As for Yak-152, believe it will replace the Yak-52 and L.39C. The SR-10 seems to be a private venture with no government involvement.  

I also tend to think that it will be two steps, the Yak-152 and the Yak-130 before to try with supersonic aircrafts.

If I'm not wrong the SR-10 was in competition with the Yak-152, but was rejected when the Yak-152 was selected. The designers are trying to open a way for the aircraft but I think military orders in Russia for this aircraft seem unlikely.

But they stated that they will probably purchase the Sr-10 as an inbetween the Yak 130 and Yak 152

Who said?

Edit: I think it was on keypub. Cant be sure. But I know there was interest in it.

From what I readed my impression is that it was more private lobbing than official interest of the Russian ministery of defense.

Some times it happen.

sepheronx wrote:Edit: I think it was on keypub.  Cant be sure.  But I know there was interest in it.

It's probably horse-shite for these reasons:

1.) Ukrainian engines.

2.) Creating a niche such as a intermediate trainer is comparable to creating a solution and then finding a problem, which is no surprise because...

3.) It's a private venture, and just take a look at the privatized MIC in the U.S. and their corrupt lobbying practices.

4.) Forward swept wings....what's the point?


...VKS shouldn't waste their time on that and just purchase more Yak-130's.

The Yak-152 is a primary trainer with a turboprop engine, the Yak-130 is a lead in fighter trainer that has advanced flight control systems allowing it to simulate the flight performance of anything from an AN-124 to a Su-35 or PAK FA... there is no need for a cheap intermediate trainer between those two.

The best bet for this light trainer is as a cheaper alternative to the Yak-130 for countries that don't need the sophistication of the Yak, and can't afford the operational costs of such a sophisticated light training aircraft.

Would be a cheap light trainer for India where many of its main fighter aircraft are two seat aircraft so the level of training in light training aircraft is not so demanding.

As an airfield hack and early trainer the SR-10 would be excellent for countries that prefer two seat operational aircraft as an intermediate step from a basic turboprop trainer to the full power fully armed two seat model fighter bomber like the Su-30MKI.

A centre pod that simulates guided weapon use would be invaluable for the SR-10... the newer guided munitions from Russia included podded seekers that can be used for training and would be relatively cheap and simple to add to an aircraft.

Yak-152 and SR-10 are not in the same league of trainers. Yak-152 is primary trainer and is meant to replace old Yak-52 trainers. SR-10 is nearer to Yak-130, than to Yak-152. About the engine, AI-25 from L-39 is used for prototype and maybe it will be used as option for civil market. I have no doubt domestic serial SR-10 will use AL-55 from MiG-AT trainer, which is far more modern and economical comparing to old AI-25 and is more powerful. RuAF could buy some SR-10 trainers for evaluations and for less important units, but it will be mostly for export. Most probably main Russian customer for SR-10 will be DOSAAF, where pilots could fly in jet trainers even before they go to academy.

If yakolev makes a light multirole version  of yak-130 (combine Yak-133 and yak-135) with supersonic ( >M1.8 ) single seat, AESA radar (with R-77, Kh-31a/p, Kh-35...) , price (under 25 millions USD) will be execellent. I think it will a hot aircraft in the world market!

Hi has anyone heard if there is any progress of producing/marketing a Yak-130 multi role attack aircraft seems such a great idea and niche in the market, it seems many countries are turning to light strike aircraft for COIN duties and ranging from jet powered to turboprop, but i think the super Tucano has pretty much won the turboprop market and why not its actually pretty good, but for the jet powered market it still seems nobody has fully won the markt share yet, and Russia isnt even in the market. Russia has got everything at its fingertips to enter every market except turboprop COIN aircraft, if it was to get a move on and start producing armed Yak-130 versions they could very well dominate this niche in the market. South American, central American, African, central Asia, S/E Asia, South Asia, and the Philippines is the potential areas of sale which is a huge market. From selling the more advanced fighters from Su-30, Su-34, Su-35, Mig-35, aircraft to the cheaper option of Mig-29SMT/M2, and various attack heli's of Mi-28, Ka-52, Mi-24/35, and
Mi-171Sh, there is something for every country and budget. Theirs even opportunity for light attack heli if yet again if Russia start push forward the Kazan Ansat-2RC armed version of Ansat. Another market for them is to push the sale of refurbished and upgraded Su-25, Su-24, Su-27, Mig-31. As well as offering upgrades to Mig-29, and other Soviet era aircraft. I always feel Russia doesnt try to expand its market to other countries and instead stays with current countries.

Another area to push is wheeled armoured vehicles such as Tigr-M, BPM-97, Gaz Vodnik etc. another growing market.

The main problem for Russia is that countries with lots of money to spend are not around in large numbers and those that do exist already have existing suppliers.

Russia lost most of its Soviet Market for weapons when the Soviet Union broke up and lost half of its European market when the Warsaw Pact broke up.

With the end of the Cold War Russia was left with a clientèle of countries used to politically motivated sales based on loans that were rarely if ever paid back... no way to run a business.

More importantly the products they used to sell tended to be simple and robust but also rather cheap.

It made them easy to use easy to maintain and effective in situations where more complicated things tended to fail... it also made them cheap for poorer countries.

New Russian hardware is actually rather sophisticated and even the factories to make the new hardware are sophisticated and capable but also more expensive.

Not every country can justify spending on an unproven potential aircraft like a fighter version of the Yak-130... we can speculate on here about how useful such an aircraft might be but that costs us nothing.

If most countries had any real brains exports of Su-25 would be like the exports of MiG-21s.... and they are not.

The Su-25 would be a much more practical aircraft for the vast majority of smaller airforces around the world that might buy Russian aircraft but instead they go for shiny fast MiGs and now Sukhoi Flanker based aircraft.

A brand new Su-25 with new ceramic armour and composite materials... increased onboard fuel, the longer barrel twin 30mm cannon from the Hind (GSh-30-2K with higher muzzle velocity and slightly lower rate of fire) and new engines based perhaps on RD-33s without the ABs would be rather more interesting in my opinion.

Especially if it had the sensors and optics and radar developed for the new attack helos currently in service and entering service soon.

Wider wings with more hard points able to carry multiple weapons (like an 8 weapon Hermes pylon like the current Vikhr setup), and a wider fuselage with belly points for weapons and targeting pods.

GarryB wrote:The main problem for Russia is that countries with lots of money to spend are not around in large numbers and those that do exist already have existing suppliers.

Russia lost most of its Soviet Market for weapons when the Soviet Union broke up and lost half of its European market when the Warsaw Pact broke up.

With the end of the Cold War Russia was left with a clientèle of countries used to politically motivated sales based on loans that were rarely if ever paid back... no way to run a business.

More importantly the products they used to sell tended to be simple and robust but also rather cheap.

It made them easy to use easy to maintain and effective in situations where more complicated things tended to fail... it also made them cheap for poorer countries.

New Russian hardware is actually rather sophisticated and even the factories to make the new hardware are sophisticated and capable but also more expensive.

Not every country can justify spending on an unproven potential aircraft like a fighter version of the Yak-130... we can speculate on here about how useful such an aircraft might be but that costs us nothing.

If most countries had any real brains exports of Su-25 would be like the exports of MiG-21s.... and they are not.

The Su-25 would be a much more practical aircraft for the vast majority of smaller airforces around the world that might buy Russian aircraft but instead they go for shiny fast MiGs and now Sukhoi Flanker based aircraft.

A brand new Su-25 with new ceramic armour and composite materials... increased onboard fuel, the longer barrel twin 30mm cannon from the Hind (GSh-30-2K with higher muzzle velocity and slightly lower rate of fire) and new engines based perhaps on RD-33s without the ABs would be rather more interesting in my opinion.

Especially if it had the sensors and optics and radar developed for the new attack helos currently in service and entering service soon.

Wider wings with more hard points able to carry multiple weapons (like an 8 weapon Hermes pylon like the current Vikhr setup), and a wider fuselage with belly points for weapons and targeting pods.

some valid points and thanks for replying.

I agree Su-25 would be ideal for smaller air forces but i think it would be better to have a mix of Su-25, Mig-29SMT/M2, Mi-24/35, Mi-17, these four would cover just about everything they would need, Mi-17 has loads variants such as medivac, SAR, armed assault, and of course transport,
the Mi-24/35 is a versatile attack gunship and can carry out every role any other attack heli can but has the added bonus of acting as back up light transport and ideal for insertion of Special forces. The Su-25 a rugged reliable, ground support back this up with the Mi-24/35 and ground troops have some real good fire support. and finally the Mig-29SMT/M2 is cheap reliable, and is brilliant at dogfights, so this would take care of enemy aircraft, bolster air defence, keep the skies clear for the Su-25 and MI-24/35 to do their thing, and can even be used to bomb enemy structures. The beauty about all four is there reliability, ruggedness, versatility and cheap price (compared to others). Small air forces often need one piece of equipment to be able to do many functions and i think the above four versatility is a key strength and of course all are fit for purpose. There is no denying all are capable and carry out their duties well.

A supersonic Yak-130 with a light but modern radar could be useful for small but not that poor countries (like Uruguay or most countries of former Yugoslavia), a very compact and light but fully combat-capable multifunctional plane which is also an advanced trainer. Only the Koreans went for this concept so far, though, with their TA/FA-50, and got some foreign orders (the Philippines and, if I am not mistaken, Indonesia).
Su-25, on the other hand, is too especialized. It is extremely armored, heavy, slow, short-ranged, purely visual (though this can be remediated with a poded radar, as it was proposed for the Su-39). It isn't suitable even for many strike missions.