According to Vladimir Artyakov, Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation, the modernized Yak-130M is expected to attract international buyers who are not interested in purchasing heavier and more expensive aircraft. The upgraded model offers a substantial increase in armament payload compared to the original Yak-130. New features include air-to-air missiles and advanced air-to-ground weapons with satellite and laser guidance systems. These enhancements effectively transform the Yak-130M into a light fighter while retaining its training functionalities.
The design documentation for the Yak-130M prototypes has already been completed under a research and development contract commissioned by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. Assembly of the first prototype is underway at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, with a total of three prototypes planned. Some of the technical innovations are already being tested on existing prototypes, including the one showcased at the “ARMY-2024” forum, as noted by Andrey Boginskiy, General Director of Yakovlev PJSC.
The Yak-130M comes equipped with advanced systems that significantly enhance its operational capabilities. These include the 130R airborne radar, the SOLT-130K optical locator, the “President-S130” onboard defense suite, and the KSS-130 communications unit. These upgrades ensure that the Yak-130M can be used for both training and combat missions around the clock and in adverse weather conditions.
