At least 6 Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft were delivered to the Ethiopian Air Force. This was reported by the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (Centre AST).
As of now, the African republic has received aircraft with tail numbers from "2301" to "2306".
The contract itself for the delivery of these aircraft to Ethiopia has not been officially reported. Centre AST, citing sources, clarified that it includes the delivery of at least 10 aircraft.
Ethiopia became the eighth foreign recipient of Russian Yak-130 aircraft after Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Iran.
Military expert Evgeny Damantsev noted that even in the standard version, the Yak-130 is equipped with short-/medium-range R-73RMD-2 missiles capable of effectively countering a wide range of kamikaze drones. The combat aircraft are built at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
A day earlier, it became known about the crash of a Yak-130 in Vietnam. The pilot managed to eject, and a special commission is investigating the incident.
Read more materials on the topic:
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- Imitation of any fighter jet. The "smart" Yak-130 surpasses all foreign competitors
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