Russia unveils upgraded Yak-130M combat trainer
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of state defense conglomerate Rostec, has unveiled the first prototype of the modernized Yak-130M jet trainer, which will soon begin ground and flight testing at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, the company said.
Two additional aircraft are currently under assembly as the program moves forward.
According to UAC, the Yak-130M is being developed under an experimental design program to enhance the combat potential of the Yak-130 platform while retaining its full training functionality. Built by the Yakovlev Design Bureau, the prototype will undergo ground trials to verify the performance of newly integrated and upgraded systems before taking to the air for its first flight.
Rostec said the modernization will transform the Yak-130 into a dual-role aircraft, capable of advanced training and light combat operations.
“The modernization will allow the Yak-130M to be armed with air-to-air missiles and precision air-to-surface munitions guided by satellite and laser systems,” the company stated. “The new aircraft will not only retain all capabilities for training combat pilots but will also acquire the qualities of a combat aircraft.”
Rostec also noted that the Yak-130M will be capable of performing missions such as intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles, a growing requirement in current conflict environments. The aircraft, developed from the Yak-130, remains suited for training pilots of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, while the new version aims to extend its operational versatility.
The modernization includes the integration of several new onboard systems developed across Rostec’s enterprises. The Yak-130M is equipped with the BRLS-130R radar, the SOLT-130K optical and laser targeting system, the President-S130 self-protection suite, and the KSS-130 communications complex. These additions, the company says, will enable the aircraft to conduct both training and combat missions around the clock and in challenging weather conditions.
Rostec emphasized that much of the new equipment was produced within the corporation’s own industrial network, underscoring efforts to maintain domestic production lines despite international sanctions. Once testing concludes, the aircraft will proceed to flight trials to confirm its enhanced performance and new combat capabilities.
