Russian Yak-130M To Perform First Flight In June

THE first test flight of the Yak-130M combat trainer jet will take place in June this year, Yakovlev (part of UAC and Rostec) managing director Vasily Prutkovsky told Russian state-owned domestic news agency, RIA Novosti. 

The Yak-130M is a further development of the Yak-130 combat trainer jet used by a number of states across the globe. It not only ensures pilot training for mastering 4++ and 5th-generation fighter aircraft but also fulfills combat missions as a light combat aircraft, notes Rosoboronexport. Performances and manoeuvrability of the Yak-130M are close to those of modern fighters at subsonic speeds. The combat trainer jet was first unveiled at the Army-2024 exhibition. Abroad, the jet was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow 2025.

The Yak-130M is the best choice in terms of “cost-effectiveness” both for training of fighter and strike pilots and for performing combat missions in local conflicts. Equipping the aircraft with radar, optical-locating sighting station and on-board defense suite in comparison with Yak-130 aircraft will enable the aircraft to perform combat missions and ensure self-protection round the clock in any weather conditions.

The Yak-130M fully complies with the requirements of a light combat aircraft for strike and fighter missions. It is equipped with modern avionics, including an airborne radar, a targeting pod and the President-S130 airborne defence system. Furthermore, the aircraft’s range of guided air-to-air weapons has been expanded. This includes the RVV-MD air-to-air missile and the KAB-250LG-E and K08BE guided bombs for engaging ground and surface targets.

Other specifications of the Yak-130M:

– Maximum take-off weight with combat payload: 10,290kg

– Maximum weight of combat payload (without pylons): 2,500kg

– Maximum flight range (with AFT): 2,265km

– Maximum speed: Mach 0.9 

– Service ceiling: 12,500m / 41,000ft

– Number of hardpoints: Nine.