Yak-130 Combat trainer

Total number (active): 12 Inventory: AF/AD: Yak-130, 12, 26.07.2006: 1 ac crashed, pilots ejected; ~10 ac according to Rus MoD in late 2006, +2 ac in 2007. Planned 60+. Constructure at "Sokol" plant, N. Novgorod. (?) 10 ac to be delivered till 2011. 2009: +2. Competitor NA AF/AD 12 * where available

Crew persons 1-2
Take-off weight:
maximum 9000
normal, kg 5700
Max speed, km/h 1050
Max flight Mach number 0,95
Operational g-load +8/-3
Max altitude m 12500
Flying angles of attack degrees up to 40
Ferry flight range with max fuel load km 2000
Fuel load in internal tanks kg 1800
Fuel load in drop tanks kg 2õ450
Max combat load mass kg 3000
Number of armament hardpoints 9
Take-off speed km/h 200
Landing speed km/h 195
Aircraft length m 11,493
Wing span m 9,72
Aircraft height m 4,76
Flying life in hours 10 000

Yak-130 combat trainer is designed for basic and advanced stages of flight training with regard for the latest tendencies of the world market development in the field of trainers and combat trainers. The aircraft is capable of effective coping with operational missions in local conflicts and in the course of anti-terrorist operations. Flight crew training has always been considered a primary task, as its quality finally determines the efficiency of aircraft operation. The continuously growing gap between the speeds of trainers and combat aircraft forced the Air Force to transit to jet trainers. In the early 1991, the USSR Air Force held a tender for the development of a single new-generation trainer. It should feature two-engine power plant, a landing speed of not more than 170 km/h, a takeoff/landing run of not more than 500 m, 3 g limits, a ferry range of 2,500 km and an ability to operate from unprepared soil airfields. Under the Yakovlev Design Bureau's concept, the primary pilot training will be provided by the Yak-56 piston-engine aircraft which is certainly easier to fly and cheaper to buy and operate. It should be noted that a similar approach existed in the USSR in the 1950s when trainee-pilots, following screening and primary training on the Yak-18, transited to the Yak-11 intermediate trainer and only then flew jet fighters. A similar pattern is currently adopted in many countries with such trainers as Pilatus PT-9 and Tucano. The more sophisticated Yak-130 is designed for routine and advanced training in navigation and aerobatics, tactical and operational maneuvering, weapon delivery and employment. The Yak-130's high performance and tactical capabilities dictated by its orientation to the international aircraft market ensured its superiority over foreign analogs in terms of generalized criterion-relative pilot training efficiency. As the Yak-130 has to perform maneuvers typical of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, we chose a moderately swept wing which made it possible to fly at angles of attack up to 35 deg. To improve takeoff and landing characteristics, the aircraft has been equipped with leading-edge slats and three-position Fowler flaps. All-moving tailplane and wing high-lift devices permit flight at large angles of attack. Perfect aerodynamic configuration is combined with a full-authority three- channel four-time redundant fly-by-wire system with a hazardous mode restriction facility. The Yak-130 is powered by two RD-35 turbofans each 2,200 kgf which provide better takeoff/landing characteristics on soil airfields compared to those of similar aircraft, and feature good fuel efficiency. In addition, high thrust-to-weight ratio provides for maneuvers at large angles of attack with speeds never lower than a minimum permissible level.

The engine is being developed under an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Slovakia. The Yak-130D demonstration aircraft, the first flying prototype, was assembled at the Yakovlev's pilot-production facility and rolled out on May 29, 1995. Later it was displayed at Le Bourget and MAKS air shows.

Perfect aerodynamics and high thrust-to-weight ratio enable Yak-130 to be flown in all modes typical for modern and advanced combat aircraft and to run effectively operational missions. The aircraft is notable for the following features:


excellent performances at low flight speeds;
the possibility to fly at big angles of attack;
excellent maneuverability characteristics;
high characteristics of steady and unsteady turn;
high climb rate;
excellent takeoff and landing characteristics;
high armament load and possibility to apply high-precision weapon;

Yak-130 combat trainer can be easily adapted to AFs requirements of different countries both in regard to technical features and operating performances such as:


high service life;
high reliability;
low cost of life cycle;
the possibility of use on small unpaved runways.

Yak-130 combat trainer makes possible to cover 80% of the entire flight training program being one of the key components in the integrated training complex which includes:


PC-equipped training class-rooms;
flight and special-purpose simulators;
integrated objective monitoring system;
piston-engined trainer aeroplane (of Yak-52Ì, Yak-152 type). Over 200 test flights made to-date have fully proved and demonstrated high flight performance and technical characteristics claimed by projected figures, for example, an ability of controllable flight at an angle of attack of 42 deg, a unique feature for this class of aircraft. The Yak-130's basic design can be used to develop a whole range of versions, primarily combat aircraft beginning from a simple combat trainer all the way through a dedicated light attack aircraft, as well as deck trainers and aircraft for the training of civil and military transport aviation pilots. Upon customer request, the Yak-130's onboard equipment and the range of pods can be accordingly modified. According to the analysis of foreign trainer and light tactical aircraft programs, the modernization of such machines as Hawk and Alpha Jet was focused on the increase of their combat capabilities in the light attack role, where the potential of Yak-130 basic version is very high considering its power-to-weight ratio and perfect aerodynamic configuration. One Yak-130 program's important factor has been conclusion of long-term cooperation agreement between Yakovlev and Aermacchi, one of the oldest Italian aircraft companies with a vast experience in the development, production, sales and after-sale servicing of its own MB-326 and MB-339 trainers. Currently, they are in service with 14 countries. Cooperation with this Italian partner has enabled Yakovlev to formulate general technical configuration of the aircraft which will be undoubtedly competitive on the combat trainer market until 2040. The Yakovlev Design Bureau, Aermacchi and Nizhni Novgorod-based Sokol aircraft plant are currently involved in the Yak-130 full-scale development, including complete design, prototype manufacture, state tests and the preparation for series production, each responsible for a specified sector. The lead aircraft is scheduled for flight tests in the year 2000. We face the future with confidence and are ready to offer our customers a whole pallet of aircraft for various roles.

High-reliable programmable integrated control system enables to train pilots for any aircraft such as: Su-30, MiG-29, F-16 and F-15, Rafale and Typhoon, F-22, F-35.

Yak-130 cockpit is arranged with regard for tendencies of instrumentation development for advanced military aircraft of the 5th generation.

The control system of airborne equipment provides monitoring of the main aircraft systems on ground and in flight that makes possible to operate the systems according to their condition.

Perfect aerodynamics and high thrust-to-weight ratio enable Yak-130 to be flown in all modes typical for modern and advanced combat aircraft and to run effectively operational missions.

Avionics complex has open architecture with the three-channel information-exchange system arranged in accordance with standard MIL-STD-1553B and radial links as per ARING-429.

The aircraft is equipped with the airborne oxygen-generating plant.

The built-in test system provides autonomous operation of the aircraft.

The auxiliary power unit ÒÀ-14 with a.c. generator offers autonomous operation of the aircraft on field aerodromes.

If necessary, the unit can be started in flight in case of emergency.

The ejection seats of "Î-Î" class with envisaged ejection "through canopy" ensure safe escape of aircraft in emergency.

Air intakes closing with special doors, when taking off, to protect against ingress of foreign matters, make possible to operate the aircraft on unpaved aerodromes.

Yak-130 combat trainer can effectively fly not only training missions but combat ones too. The up-to-date weapon control system designed on the module-block principle enables to vary the composition of weapons with minimum modifications according to the sighting systems used.

The nine blocks of external stores offer up to 3000 kg combat load which Yak-130 can carry:

External Stores:
Description
Russian
Western

Guided "air-to-air" missile
R-73
AIM-9, Magic

Guided "air-to-surface" missile
H-25
AGM-65

Pods with dart 57 mm missiles
UB-32
AL-25-50, LAU-51

Bombs of 250-500 kg caliber
FAB
Mk82, Mk83, SAMP-25

Cluster munition
RBK-500
BL 755

Laser-guided bombs
ÊÀB-500
Rockeye II

Gun pod
GSh-23
DEFA, Aden

Drop fuel tanks



Pod with laser-TV guidance system






Yak-130 combat trainer can be used for creating on its basis a family of light strike aircraft with succession of the most Yak-130 design and technical features.

The degree of unification of the strike and combat trainer versions of Yak-130 comes to 90%.

At the stages of advanced training the Yak-130 ensures assimilating of airborne equipment and armament, mastering the fundamentals of combat application in actions against ground and aerial targets typical for aircraft of the 4th and 5th generations.

The simplicity of design, high reliability of airframe, power plant and aircraft systems, long service life and full self-sufficiency of the aircraft as well as high manufacturability in combination with low cost of life cycle and high performances ensure effective execution combat missions and high-quality training of air staff at short time.

26.07.2006: 1 ac crashed, pilots ejected and survived.