Yak-130: News

Strike configuration Yak-130! Wingtip chaff& flares plus ECM pods, and targeting sight in the nose:

http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2015/8/25/3463/

Supposedly a new engine is being developed that can replace Al-225 on Yak-130, and also be used on "UAV" projects.
It should have better thrust and consumption/maintenance characteristics, although I wonder if Al-225 will actually be replaced
on Russian Yak-130 trainers, i.e. re-engining them in an over-haul so quickly? Or even having a 'split fleet' has issues.
It could be attractive for export customers who don't yet have a Yak-140 fleet, especially if it enables more payload/range for light attack version...?

1st order of 55 aircrafts must has been concluded. Probably we must have a new one now

Wonder if they will pursue conformal fuel tanks, could open up more hard points for heavier munitions/launchers...

This EO device have larger window than Klen in Su-25, so it must also have TV and maybe IIR channel inside.

mutantsushi wrote:http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2015/8/25/3463/

Supposedly a new engine is being developed that can replace Al-225 on Yak-130, and also be used on "UAV" projects.
It should have better thrust and consumption/maintenance characteristics, although I wonder if Al-225 will actually be replaced
on Russian Yak-130 trainers, i.e. re-engining them in an over-haul so quickly?  Or even having a 'split fleet' has issues.
It could be attractive for export customers who don't yet have a Yak-140 fleet, especially if it enables more payload/range for light attack version...?

I don't think they will replace those engines so quick on existing Yak-130 trainers. After all, they are in air academies and for their need, they are just perfect. More advanced engines will most probably come with Yak-130 in role of light combat trainer. Considering, that Su-35 and PAK-FA don't have two seaters, they will need more combat equipped and powerful Yak-130 trainer to prepare young pilots from academies for new fighters and to get proper combat skills before they sit in the real fighter jet.

Supposedly a new engine is being developed that can replace Al-225 on Yak-130, and also be used on "UAV" projects.
It should have better thrust and consumption/maintenance characteristics, although I wonder if Al-225 will actually be replaced
on Russian Yak-130 trainers, i.e. re-engining them in an over-haul so quickly? Or even having a 'split fleet' has issues.

Are you talking about the Al-222-25? In which case the fact that it is made by Motor Sich in the Ukraine perhaps suggests an alternative Russian engine might be useful for both export and domestic use.

Its usefulness in UAVs and UCAVs and other light aircraft would be significant as well.

I am curious why they didn't bother with putting on some small AESA radar or an earlier zhuk radar (until the AESA's are ready), and optical system similar to like what Textron showed with the Scorpion?

It is currently a small light LIFT with limited attack capability.

An AESA would certainly improve performance in attack and air to air capabilities, but for the cost I suspect it would be more efficient to sell them MiGs which have better range, better speed, and are a mature system.

Why not use the Thermal imager, TV/laser sight system used on the Mi-28 and Mi-35M?

Would be better to fit it with a targeting pod... not every aircraft will need it, and it would be cheaper and simpler to upgrade.

With newer weapons being lighter and of course new light weapons being developed for UCAVs due soon I would not bother making the Yak-130 into a MiG-29SMT... if they want a light attack aircraft there are already plenty of other options.

I don't think they will replace those engines so quick on existing Yak-130 trainers. After all, they are in air academies and for their need, they are just perfect. More advanced engines will most probably come with Yak-130 in role of light combat trainer.

They have Made in the Ukraine stamped on them... I suspect replacing them will be a priority.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKfqDZR9S_s

Interesting video of Yak-130 HUD and HDD, when aiming TV guided PGM on the bridge.

George1 wrote:1st order of 55 aircrafts must has been concluded. Probably we must have a new one now

My understanding was first order for 12, then 55 and 10 optional which has been ordered. Should be complete this year or next.
Next order thru to 2025 was to be for another 55 I heard, but unknown concerning status. The Naval Aviation is also getting 5-10.
Total delivered to Air Force by end of 2014 was 63.

EDIT: that 63 may be active aircraft with 2 lost so far. That would mean the 12 due for delivery this year will be the end of those ordered.

Quite a good general write up.

http://warisboring.com/articles/this-tiny-russian-plane-has-a-ridiculous-amount-of-weapons/

More publicity on the Italian Yak-130. This is part of the article

The Italian Air Force has stated that it has begun to train newly-qualified pilots on the Alenia Aermacchi T-346A (M-346A), a military transonic trainer aircraft based on the Yak-130. Its immediate predecessor was originally developed as a joint venture by the Russian Design Bureau Yakovlev and the Italian aerospace company Aermacchi.

According to media reports, Italy has already ordered 15 M-346As, which are designed to introduce pilots to fifth-generation aircraft performance on Eurofighter Typhoon, AMX, Panavia Tornado, and F-35 jets.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/world/20150912/1026907612/russia-italy-pilots-training-jet.html#ixzz3lXbfXNL8

New Electronics to Turn Yak-130 Jet Into Deadly War Machine

An advanced radio-radar system and a new optical target-acquiring and navigation complex are in development for the Russian Yakovlev Yak-130 jet fighter/trainer, KRET Company reported on Thursday.

The new equipment will allow the aircraft to attack targets beyond the operational area of enemy air-defense systems.

"Despite the fact that the Yak-130 is a small aircraft, when updated it is expected to be successfully used in a number of combat missions which traditionally involve assault fighters and fourth-generation multirole jets," KRET CEO Vladimir Mikheev said.

"At the same time, the Yak-130 will be less costly in operation and simpler in deployment and maintenance. The new advanced systems would allow the aircraft to attack ground and aerial targets from beyond the hitting area of enemy air-defenses," he explained.

KRET is avidly involved in the development of a new assault jet fighter on the Yak-130 platform.

"The new radar system will operate in connection with the cutting-edge computing combat processor device. Together with the newly-developed target acquiring system, the Yak-130 will be able to carry a number of high-precision modern weapons, including the Vikhr-M anti-tank missile, R-73E, Kh-29L and Kh-25MS guided missiles as well as other medium-range weapons," the company told RIA Novosti.

According to Mikheev, "all of the above would make the combat capabilities of the Yak-130 close to the specs of the Su-25SM assault fighter."

The Yak-130 is a new-generation two-seat jet fighter/trainer designed for training and combat missions. The aircraft can operate under any weather conditions and hit aerial and ground targets. In its technical and combat capabilities, the Yak-130 can match modern jet fighters, especially at subsonic speeds. The aircraft is also simple in maintenance and can operate at unprepared airfields.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150917/1027156993/new-electronics-yak-130.html#ixzz3m2LHuBSS

GunshipDemocracy wrote:

George1 wrote:New Electronics to Turn Yak-130 Jet Into Deadly War Machine

An advanced radio-radar system and a new optical target-acquiring and navigation complex are in development for the Russian Yakovlev Yak-130 jet fighter/trainer, KRET Company reported on Thursday.

The new equipment will allow the aircraft to attack targets beyond the operational area of enemy air-defense systems.

"Despite the fact that the Yak-130 is a small aircraft, when updated it is expected to be successfully used in a number of combat missions which traditionally involve assault fighters and fourth-generation multirole jets," KRET CEO Vladimir Mikheev said.

"At the same time, the Yak-130 will be less costly in operation and simpler in deployment and maintenance. The new advanced systems would allow the aircraft to attack ground and aerial targets from beyond the hitting area of enemy air-defenses," he explained.

KRET is avidly involved in the development of a new assault jet fighter on the Yak-130 platform.

"The new radar system will operate in connection with the cutting-edge computing combat processor device. Together with the newly-developed target acquiring system, the Yak-130 will be able to carry a number of high-precision modern weapons, including the Vikhr-M anti-tank missile, R-73E, Kh-29L and Kh-25MS guided missiles as well as other medium-range weapons," the company told RIA Novosti.

According to Mikheev, "all of the above would make the combat capabilities of the Yak-130 close to the specs of the Su-25SM assault fighter."

The Yak-130 is a new-generation two-seat jet fighter/trainer designed for training and combat missions. The aircraft can operate under any weather conditions and hit aerial and ground targets. In its technical and combat capabilities, the Yak-130 can match modern jet fighters, especially at subsonic speeds. The aircraft is also simple in maintenance and can operate at unprepared airfields.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150917/1027156993/new-electronics-yak-130.html#ixzz3m2LHuBSS

Yak-130 close to Su-25SM? speed or range maybe not armor , I´d presume that they promte Yak as alternative for lightweight platform  like KAI T-50 (ok KAI is supersonic )

but then why manned?

Yak-130 doesn't need armor. It is advanced trainer and light combat aircraft. It will have radar and most probably targeting pod and self defense eqiuppment to make it similar to Su-25SM3. Yak-130 is already capable to use TV guided bombs and missiles and with targeting pod it will be able to use laser guided bombs and missiles. PGMs will give enough range for Yak-130 to stay outside of range of MANPADs and guns. On the other hand radar equipped Yak-130 will be more capable in air combat than Su-25SM.

Su-34 has armor and it is able to use all of those weapons and then some more. What does that tell you?

This is aimed at a huge potential export market. Look at how well its 'cousin' the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 has done, bought by Italy, Poland, Israel and Singapore, or earlier generation trainer/light attack like the BAE Hawk.

Russia, especially with the current currency value, really wants a bit of that action.

New Zealand wont buy any... when they got rid of the skyhawks the reasoning was that we had no need for fighter aircraft of any kind.

Our best chance of getting that reversed would be the current national party sucking up to the americans and buying F-16s but they wont.

There is no chance of F-35s.

Personally I think the market for the upgraded ground attack Yak-130s is pretty good... they would likely be attractive to countries who want to replace MiG-21s, but I think they need to replace the two existing engines with a derated RD-33 that is lightened and simplified and puts out maybe 6-7 tons thrust.

Berkut wrote:Su-34 has armor and it is able to use all of those weapons and then some more. What does that tell you?

They are two very different planes. Su-34 is heavy fighter bomber for deep strikes in heavily defended areas and have strategical importance, that is why it is well protected electronically and by armor and use long range PGMs.

Yak-130 will never be used for such tasks. It is advanced trainer and light combat aircraft, so its mission will be different that that of Su-34 and its targets also. Equipped with radar, which could enable the use of basic R-77 missile as small radar will not have enough range for R-77-1 missile, it could do secondary air defense role and with air to ground modes for terrain mapping and searching of stationary and moving ground targets, etc, it will be able to do its job anytime in a day in any weather using PGMs. Light combat Yak-130 is a plane for low intensity war or to engage targets in less defended areas. In such places it will be same effective as Su-34, but far cheaper per mission and without exposing more expensive and more valuable fighter bombers. Equip Yak-130 with IFR and even the range will not be a problem. Actually IFR for Yak-130 will become a must have as IFR is becoming standard equipment in RuAF and pilots will have to learn first skills with IFR with trainers, before they go to real combat jets in combat units. Su-35 and PAK-FA will not have their training two seater variants, so Yak-130 trainer will have to train pilots as much in combat skills as possible, before they will sit in those jets. Basic Yak-130 trainer is excellent for military academies, but after academy they will need more advanced light combat Yak-130 for more advanced combat trainings with real radar, IFR and ESM electronics, before they go to combat units.

d_taddei2 wrote:i remember nearly 2yrs ago i posted on this forum about the potential of the YAK-130 as a cheap multirole fighter, and its definitely got a market for such an aircraft, african and south american countries who's aircraft inventory is now at a point it needs replacing this would be an ideal opportunity for Russia to sell to these countries currently these countries have been turning to Brazil to buy the super Tucano  to fufill there requirements and although the super tucano is great at what it does, and cheap to buy and run, but the Yak 130 can fufill that role and more but is still cheap to buy and run (although not as cheap as the tucano obviously). The Yak-130 is ideal for defence forces such as the Rep. Ireland, and New Zealand, who currently have to intercept capability. The Irish Air Corps lacks a dedicated air intercept capability and has to relay on UK for any breeches, but apparently they are looking to solve this problem. The Yak-130 could also provide recce(inc martime) and be capable of carrying anti shipping missles. so for a small nation looking for a cheap mutlirole aircraft that wont break the bank then i think the YAK-130 is ideal and dealing with Russia would be a lot easier and cheaper to deal with than western companies. I can see the YAK-130 becoming a huge export success for Russia  

AFAIK by the agreement Yakovlev had with Aeromacchi - Ireland falls under Aeromacchi's potential customer base.

Ireland will not be buying it. I will be surprised indeed if any jets of any type are bought.
The only jet operated by the tiny Irish Air Corp is a single VIP Learjet.
The rest of the small fixed wing fleet (15 airframes) are 4 types of propellor planes doing a variety of roles.

Ireland have never had a modern interceptor, or indeed, any worthwhile combat jet. Only half a squadron of light jet trainers not much faster than WW2 piston fighters. The last "interceptor" was a handful of navalised Spitfires called the Seafire.
And that isn't about to change.