Third Yak-130M Training Jet Makes Maiden Flight

The third Yak-130M, Russia's upgraded combat trainer jet, successfully completed its first flight at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) recently announced a major milestone in the aircraft's development program. The upgraded jet, previously known as a training aircraft, now has advanced combat capabilities...

0 Posted by: Majid Amiri on October 20, 1405 at 14:20

The third example of the Yak-130M, Russia's upgraded combat-trainer jet, successfully completed its maiden flight at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

Russia's United Aviation Corporation (UAC) has just announced a major development in the development program of the Yak-130M aircraft. This upgraded aircraft, which was previously used as a training jet, now has advanced combat capabilities. The addition of another prototype to the program will ensure the timely completion of tests and the start of deliveries from 2028.

The first flight of the third prototype Yak-130M and delivery schedule

The third Yak-130M prototype with number 137 was successfully flown from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Siberia. The aircraft was flown by test pilots Yakovlev, Oleg Motovin and Alexander Gaskov, and all systems worked normally. UAC announced that this new prototype will enable the timely completion of tests and the delivery of these training-combat jets will begin in 2028. The first and second prototypes of this aircraft made their first flight in June 2026 and October 2025, respectively.

Combat capabilities and key upgrades of the Yak-130M jet

The Yak-130M has been equipped with new equipment to become a light combat aircraft while retaining the fuselage and engines of the original version. According to the UAC, the upgraded jet includes a BRLS-130R radar (which Russian sources describe as an active phased array), a KSS-130 communications suite, a SOLT-130K targeting pod (including a camera, thermal imager and laser pointer) and a President-S130 personal defense system. This jet is now capable of carrying a wider range of guided and unguided weapons, day and night and in all weather conditions. Russian officials have described it as a drone hunter capable of intercepting drones and carrying air-to-air missiles and laser- and satellite-guided bombs.

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Export prospects and international customers

The main goal of upgrading this jet is to increase its competitiveness in the export market. Yakovlev presented the Yak-130M replica for the first time at the Army-2024 exhibition near Moscow. Vietnam is the only export customer that has been named so far and in July it signed a contract to buy 18 of these planes with the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.