The presentation of the Ya-130M aircraft was attended by the General Director of PJSC Yakovlev (part of the UAC of Rostec State Corporation) Andrey Ivanovich Boginsky, General Director of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ, part of the UAC of the Rostec State Corporation) Alexander Alekseevich Veprev and Dmitry Konstantinovich Popov, Deputy chief designer of the Yak-130 aircraft, who told us in detail about the aircraft modernization project.

A Yak-130M demonstrator with a full set of new equipment and weapons was presented at the pavilion of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The current serial Yak-130 is a combat training aircraft that is used to train cadets, and can also use various types of weapons. But there are no sighting systems on it, and weapons can only be used for visible targets and targets with known coordinates.

Now, in order to expand the combat capabilities of the aircraft, Yakovlev is carrying out work on upgrading the aircraft in order to expand its combat capabilities. First of all, it is the installation of an on—board radar station in the nose of the fuselage, which will allow you to further see targets and use air-to-air missiles with a longer range. The use of RVV-MD missiles with an extended launch range is provided for hitting air targets.

It is also planned to install an optical location station in the SALT-130K container design, which includes optical, laser and thermal imaging channels. This will allow the use of correctable aerial bombs with laser targeting, as well as detecting targets at a greater distance in the thermal range.

To protect against threats from ground-based air defense systems, it is planned to install an on-board defense complex, which includes two containers placed on the wingtips. The first optical container, which detects missile launches, is equipped with a device for ejecting jamming cartridges to counter missile guidance. The second container is a radar container that detects the irradiation of an aircraft with air defense systems, missile launches and puts interference.

The range of weapons is also expanding. First of all, these are bombs with laser and satellite guidance. To work on area targets, four multi-lock beam suspension holders will be installed on the aircraft, each with four OFAB-100-120. That is, 16 bombs. Cannon armament is also expanding. Currently, the serial Yak-130 can use only one GSH-23L cannon with 120 rounds. The upgraded version provides for the possibility of suspending four containers with the same GSH-23L guns with 250 rounds of ammunition per container. There are 1000 rounds in total.

In order to ensure work with the new aircraft equipment, the cabin of the upgraded version of the Yak-130 will be equipped with additional consoles and a more powerful sighting and navigation system. A new set of communication facilities with two radio stations is also being installed, which will allow the aircraft to be used to perform tasks over the sea. The complex will carry out open and closed radio communications, as well as data exchange with ground control points and other aircraft for group actions.

At the same time, all this on-board and attachments did not require changes to the airframe design. The only thing that was changed was the deflection angles of the wing tips, which improved the maneuverability characteristics of the aircraft. Also, the weight of the aircraft and the alignment remained unchanged. The fact is that even at the stage of creating the basic Yak-130, the possibility of installing a locator was incorporated into the design of the aircraft. So far, all production aircraft have been produced with a centering load of 60 kg. After installing the radar in the centering plates, there is no need. In a compartment with an upgraded cable network, the weight characteristics of the structure will remain in the same parameters. The radius of combat use remains the same.

It should be noted that so far only the Yak-130M demonstrator has been presented at the exhibition, where constructive changes to the future aircraft are being worked out. Now, by order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the stage of experimental design work (R&D) is being implemented. The development of the technical project has been completed, design documentation is being issued, which is being transferred to the manufacturer's factory in Irkutsk, where production of prototypes has already begun.

According to the General Director of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ, part of the UAC of the Rostec State Corporation) Alexandra Vepreva, the factory has completed the preparation of production for the production of the Yak-130M. Parts are being manufactured and by the end of November it is planned to assemble the first fuselage, and in December the second one. According to the plans, the first experimental car should take to the sky in the first half of next year. In total, three prototypes will be built for factory and state tests. "It is planned to complete the development work on the creation of an upgraded version of the Yak-130 aircraft within three years," Andrei Boginsky, General Director of Yakovlev PJSC, told reporters.

PJSC Yakovlev does not hide that the new modification of the aircraft is primarily focused on foreign markets. Moreover, the transformation of the combat training Yak-130 into the combat Yak-130M is the realization of the wishes of customers in those countries where the aircraft is already in operation. Rosoboronexport stated that the export potential of the Yak-130M is about 40 aircraft. At the same time, Rosoboronexport estimated the market capacity for upgrading previously delivered Yak-130 to the Yak-130M version at about 60 more aircraft. Potential customers are Asian and African countries.

In conclusion, one more important aspect should be noted. The transformation of a combat training aircraft into a light combat aircraft does not exclude training functionality. If necessary, the Yak-130M can also be used as a training aircraft, but now with the development of using a more serious complex of weapons.