Specialists at JSC "Yakovlev" have announced the completion of the second prototype of the Yak-130M combat trainer aircraft. The aircraft is painted in the pixel camouflage traditional for Russian aviation and will soon join ground and flight tests. The assembly of the third aircraft is underway, according to the design bureau.
The Yak-130M was developed based on the analysis and generalization of aviation's experience in local and regional conflicts. The creation of light combat aircraft based on combat trainers is in line with global trends in the development of military aviation.
The first prototype recently rolled off the assembly line at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant and has already been sent for testing.
The Yak-130M model is based on the Yak-130 combat trainer, which is used to train pilots of fourth and fifth-generation fighters. The main goal of the upgrade is to expand combat capabilities while maintaining the functions of a training aircraft. The updated aircraft will be able to carry air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, turning it from a trainer into a multifunctional combat platform.
The integration of modern onboard systems ensures round-the-clock operation in difficult weather conditions. The Yak-130M is equipped with the BRLS-130R airborne radar, the SOLT-130K optoelectronic thermal imaging system, the "President-S130" defense complex, and the KSS-130 communication system. Simply put, the aircraft received a modern "head" for detecting targets, targeting and navigation optics, active and passive self-defense equipment, and updated communication channels for real-time data exchange.