The Yakovlev Yak-130 (NATO reporting name: Mitten) is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft or lead-in fighter trainer originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi. Development of the plane began in 1991 and the maiden flight was conducted on 25 April 1996.
It has been 40 years recently since the Soviet Air Force and several other air forces fielded the Czech-made L-29 jet trainers. In 1961, the L-29 was selected in a competition (mostly, due to political considerations) for the future trainer for the Warsaw Pact countries, having one-upped the Soviet Yak-30 and Polish Iskra. Since then, Czech-made trainers have made up the mainstay of the air force academies in many countries. In 1974, the L-29 was ousted by the more-advanced L-39 powered by the Soviet-built AI-25TL turbofan. By the time the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact dissolved, the Soviet Air Force had had about a thousand L-39 in its inventory. They constituted the backbone of the trainer fleets operated by the military flight schools. In the early 1990s, the Czech Republic ceased to supply new aircraft and spares. The in-service trainers were growing old, with their service life nearing expiry due to their being used heavily.
In addition, given the en-masse conversion to the fourth-generation Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters with radically novel characteristics and given the even more capable fifth-generation fighter's development underway, the L-39 was unable to provide adequate training to advanced fighters' pilots.
These considerations prompted the Soviet Air Force in the early '90s to have the development of a new tactical flight crew trainer launched. The need for replacing the L-39 with a brand-new trainer was voiced by the Soviet Air Force's commander-in-chief, Air Marshal Yefimov, on 20 April 1990. In the summer 1990, the first official document was issued. It was the resolution by the State Military Industrial Commission, dated 25 June 1990 and tasking the Mikoyan design bureau with developing the future trainer.
Under the specifications requirements approved in October 1990, the advanced aircraft was to be powered by two engines as well as have a landing speed of within 170km/h (92kt), run and roll measuring 500m (1,640ft) at the most, unprepared airfield basing capability, a ferry range of 2,500km (l,350nm) and a thrust-to-weight ration of 0.6-0.7. In addition, the customer wanted the reprogrammable stability and controllability for the aircraft to be-fit for training pilots from all branches of the Air Force. The requirement for the trainer to be made of Russian parts only vas high on the customer's v-ish list. According to RusAF command's-estimates, at least 1,200 advanced trainers were necessary to oust the L-39 fleet. The first new trainers were to be received by users in 1994.
To reduce technical risk and obtain the best aircraft, the military called for a trainer aircraft competition among major Soviet aircraft developers. In January 1991, specifications requirements for a trainer for future tactical aircraft pilots were sent to MiG, Sukhoi, Yakovlev and Myasishchev. On 25 November 1991, Air Force CINC Col.-Gen. Pyotr Deynekin ordered a commission set up to review the conceptual designs submitted by the four bidders. The outcome of the tender was to be known on 15 January 1992.
Yakolev Yak-130 development
A joint programme for trainer development between Yakovlev of Russia and Aermacchi of Italy began in 1993 and the Yak / AEM-130D demonstrator first flew in 1996. In 1999, the partnership was dissolved and the Yakovlev Yak-130 and the Aermacchi M346 became separate programmes.
By the second quarter of 2003, the Yak-130 prototype had successfully completed 450 flights, including high-manoeuvrability flight demonstrations such as a controlled angle of attack of 42°.
The Yak-130 completed the first stage of state joint tests in April 2009 which includes incorporating basic armaments. It arrived at Lipetsk Air Base in February 2010.
The Yak-130 has a maximum g-loading of +8g to -3g and is capable of executing the flight manoeuvres specific to current operational and developmental combat aircraft, including Su-30, MiG-29, Mirage, F-15, F-16, Eurofighter, F-22 and F-35.
Other variants of the Yak-130 considered included a navalised carrier-based trainer aircraft, a lightweight reconnaissance aircraft and an unmanned strike aircraft.
Yakolev Yak-130 is an advanced pilot training aircraft, able to replicate characteristics of Russian 4th and 5th generation fighters. This is possible through the use of open architecture digital avionics compliant with a 1553 Databus, a full digital glass cockpit, four-channel digital Fly-By-Wire System (FBWS) and Instructor controlled and variable FBWS handling characteristics and embedded simulation. The type also has a Head-up display (HUD) and a Helmet-Mounted-Sighting-System (HMSS), with a double GPS/GLONASS receiver updating an Inertial Reference System (IRS) for highly accurate navigation and precision targeting. The developer estimates that the plane can cover up to 80% of the entire pilot flight training program.
In addition to its training role, the aircraft is capable of fulfilling Light Attack and Reconnaissance duties. It can carry a combat load of 3,000 kilograms (6,600 pounds), consisting of various guided and un-guided weapons, auxiliary fuel tanks and electronic pods. According to its chief designer Konstantin Popovich, during a testing phase that ended in December 2009, the plane was tested with "all airborne weapons with a weight of up to 500 kg that are in service in the Russian Air Force". Yak-130 has nine hard points: two wingtip, six under-wing and one under-fuselage.
The aircraft's twin engines are mounted under extended wing roots, which reach as far forward as the windscreen. Two Ivchenko Progress AI-222-25 Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) produce a combined total of 49 kilonewtons (11,000 pound-force) of thrust. An upgraded, "-28" engine is also on offer, increasing the thrust to 53 kN (12,000 lbf). At a normal Take-Off Weight of 7,250 kg (15,980 lb), a Thrust-to-Weight ratio of 0.70 is achieved with the "-25", or 0.77 with the "-28" engines. This compares with 0.65 for the BAE Systems Hawk 128 and 0.49 for the Aero Vodochody L-159B.
Maximum internal fuel capacity is 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). With two external combat fuel tanks the figure increases to 2,600 kg (5,700 lb). Maximum true airspeed is Mach 0.93 (572 knots), service ceiling is 12,500 metres (41,000 feet) and load factors are from −3 to +9 g. Typical Take-Off speed and distance in a "clean" configuration are 209 km/h (113 kn) and 550 m (1,800 ft), whilst landing figures are 191 km/h (103 kn) and 750 m (2,460 ft), respectively. Cross wind limit is 56 km/h (30 kn).
The Yakovlev Yak-130 is equipped with the FBWS controlled engine intake blanking doors, in order to prevent the aircraft's engines from sustaining Foreign object damage when operating from unpaved runways and grass strips.
The large canopies are sideways hinged.
Combat training suite on the Yak-130 includes simulated and real firing systems with air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, bomb dropping, gun firing and on-board self-protection systems.
All-digital cockpit
The aircraft has an air-conditioned and pressurised two-seat tandem cockpit fitted with NPO Zvezda K-36LT3.5 zero-zero ejection seats. The pilots have all-round view through a blister canopy. The forward pilot has a view over the nose to -16°. The rear pilot has a view to -6°.
The production Yak-130 is the first Russian aircraft with an all-digital avionics suite. The avionics meets Mil Standard 1553 and can be adapted to the customer's requirements.
The aircraft has an all-glass cockpit. Both pilot positions are night vision goggle compatible and equipped with three multifunction 6in x 8in colour liquid crystal displays.
The pilot in the forward cockpit can use the helmet-mounted sight for target designation. The cockpit is fitted with an MS internal and external communication and voice warning system supplied by AA.S. Popov GZAS joint stock company.
The Avionica fly-by-wire flight control system is used to adjust the stability and controllability characteristics and flight safety systems to simulate a number of aircraft such as the MiG-29, Su-27, Su-30, F-15, F-16, F-18, Mirage 2000, Rafale, Typhoon and future fighters such as the F-35.
The pilot selects the software model of the simulated aircraft's control system on the Yak-130 on-board computer. The pilot can select the model during flight. The system can be forgiving to allow cadet pilots the easy acquisition of piloting skills.
The open architecture avionics suite includes two computers and a three-channel information exchange multiplexer. The navigation suite includes laser gyroscopes and GLONASS / NAVSTAR global positioning.
Weapons
The Yakolev Yak-130 combat trainer can simulate the tactics of different combat aircraft. There is one centreline fuselage hardpoint and the number of wing hardpoints for the suspension of weapons payloads has been increased to eight with six underwing and two wingtip points, increasing the combat payload weight to 3,000kg.
The aircraft can carry weapons, suspended fuel tanks, reconnaissance pods and a range of electronic warfare pods including radar jammers and infrared countermeasures.
An open architecture avionics suite installed on the Yak-130 allows a wide range of western weapon systems and guided missiles to be integrated including the AIM-9L Sidewinder, Magic 2 and the AGM-65 Maverick.
Weapons fits include the Vikhr laser-guided missile, R-73 infrared-guided air-to-air missiles (Nato designation AA-11 Archer) and the Kh-25 ML (Nato designation AS-10 Karen) air-to-surface laser-guided missile. A Platan electro-optical guidance pod is installed under the fuselage for deployment of the KAB-500Kr guided bomb.
The aircraft is fitted with a 30mm GSh-301 cannon or a podded GSh-23 cannon installed under the fuselage. It can also deploy unguided B-8M and B-18 rockets, 250kg and 50kg bombs and cluster bombs.
Yakolev Yak-130 radar
The Yakolev Yak-130 is fitted with the 8GHz to 12.5GHz Osa or Oca (Wasp) radar developed by NIIP Zhukovsky. The radar has the capacity to track eight airborne targets simultaneously, simultaneously engage four targets at all angles and simultaneously track two ground targets. The detection range against 5m² cross section targets is 40km in the rear direction and 85km in the forward direction. The lock-on range for operation in automatic tracking mode is 65km.
The radar, which has adaptive waveforms and sidelobes, has a surface mapping mode which includes image freezing and zooming on areas of interest.
An alternative radar fit is the Kopyo (Spear) radar. The aircraft can also be fitted with a podded Platan (Palm Tree) infrared search and track targeting system.
Countermeasures
The electronic warfare suite includes a chaff and flare dispenser, a radar warning receiver and active jammers.
Turbofan engines
The aircraft has a high thrust-to-weight ratio of about 0.85. The demonstrator is powered by two Slovakian Povazske Strojarne DV-2SM turbofan engines, each rated at 2,200kg thrust.
Production aircraft are fitted with two powerful high-economy AI-222-25 turbofan engines, each rated at 2,500kg thrust and developed under a Russian and Ukrainian program by Motor Sich, Zaporozh'e Progress Design Bureau and the Moscow Salyut Motor Building Production Enterprise. The export variant of the Yakolev Yak-130 can be fitted with the DV-2SM engine.
The internal fuel tanks, comprising two wing tanks and a centre fuselage tank, carry up to 1,750kg of fuel. With two suspended fuel tanks (each 450l) the maximum total fuel load is 2,650kg. The aircraft is fitted with single point pressure or optional gravity refuelling. The aircraft can be fitted with an in-flight refuelling probe.
The export variant of the Yak-130 can be fitted with the DV-2SM engine.
According to the customer country's requirement, the aircraft can be fitted with an in-flight refuelling probe.
Operational history
The Yakolev Yak-130 prototype completed its maiden flight, registered as RA-431130, on 25 April 1996 at Zhukovsky airfield.
On 30 April 2004, the first pre-series Yak-130, assembled at the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod, performed its maiden flight. The plane was put on display for the first time at the Paris Air Show in June 2005. It was followed by three more pre-series aircraft.
In December 2009, the aircraft completed state trials and was accepted for service in the Russian Air Force.
Orders and deliveries
In 2005, Russian Air Force made its first order for 12 Yak-130s. The Russian Air Force intends to buy at least 72 Yak-130s, enough to equip four training regiments. Commander-in-Chief, Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin, announced on 8 November 2011, that the Russian Defence Ministry was to sign a contract within two weeks with Irkut Corporation for 65 additional aircraft – 55 firm orders plus 10 options. Zelin stated that deliveries were expected to be completed by 2017.
The first serial aircraft was handed to a training center in Lipetsk on 19 February 2010. Once the 2005 contract for 12 Sokol plant-made Yak-130s for the Russian Defence Ministry was fulfilled in June 2011, a decision was made that all subsequent Yak-130 orders, both domestic and export ones, would be handled by the Irkutsk Aviation Plant of the Irkut Corporation. However, the Russian Air Force only took delivery of the first Yak-130 by the Irkutsk in October 2012. "The first batch of Yak-130 combat trainers flew from the Irkut plant to the Borisoglebsk airfield, after an extensive flight testing program", stated Colonel Andrei Bobrun.
In February 2014 Irkut Corporation revealed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) to supply additional Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainer aircraft to the National Air Force. According to Irkut president Oleg Demchenko, the company in December signed a contract with the Defense Ministry on the delivery of 12 Yak-130 aircraft to form a new aerobatics team. At the same time, second contract occurred to be signed for 10 more aircraft, for the Russian Naval Aviation
In April 2012, Irkut Corporation president, Alexey Fedorov claimed that there are "more than ten potential customers".
In November 2012, Sergey Kornev, a representative of the Rosoboronexport (Russia's state intermediary agency for exports/imports of defense-related products) said Malaysia and several other countries are also interested of Yak-130. He was speaking at the China Airshow 2012 in the Chinese city of Zhuhai.
In December 2012, Government of Belarus signed an agreement with Russia to provide four Yak-130 to Belarus by 2015. Belarus has ordered new combat aircraft from Russia, according to the commander of Belarus' Air Force and Air Defense Forces in August 2015. Major General Oleg Dvigalev said the country has signed two contracts for four Russian Yakolev Yak-130 Mitten trainer/strike aircraft.
Libya put an order for 6 planes. Deliveries to Libya were expected in 2011–2012, but the Libyan National Transitional Council cancelled Libya's order for Yak-130s in September 2011 as part of a review of all existing arms contracts.
Syria has agreed to purchase 36 aircraft, but delivery of these has been postponed by Russia due to the conflict in Syria. In May 2014 Russia announced that it will supply Syria with Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainer aircraft. Syria was expected to receive nine aircraft by the end of 2014, twelve in 2015 and fifteen in 2016, for overall of 36 airplanes.
The Uruguayan Air Force is considering the aircraft for the future replacement of the A-37 with the F-5 Freedom Fighter as another possible candidate.
Russia has offered the Yak-130 to Serbia as part of a US$3 billion loan for the upgrading of the Serbian Armed Forces.
In January 2014 Bangladesh ordered 24 Yak-130. The aircraft will be bought with an extended loan from Russia. The order has been reduced to 16 aircraft.
Variants
Yakovlev Yak-130
Basic dual seat advanced trainer
Yakovlev Yak-131
Single seat light attack aircraft
Yakovlev Yak-133
Single seat recon aircraft
Yakovlev Yak-135
Four seat VIP transport
Prospective trainer specifications approved on March 1993
Flight performance Data
Normal take-off weight within 5,500 kg (12,000lb)
Thrust/weight ratio 0,6 - 0,7
Maximum speed at least 850 km/h (460kt)
Maximum Mach at least 0,8 - 0,85
Cervice ceiling over 10.000 m (32,00ft)
Minimum speed 210 - 220 km/h (113 - 119kt)
Range 1,200 km (650nm)
Ferry range over 2,000 km (1,080nm)
Maximum angle of attack at least 25 degr.
Take-off speed, m 190 - 200 km/h (103 - 108kt)
Run within 500 m (1,640ft)
Roll within 700 m (2,300ft)