Yakovlev is modifying the Yak-130 advanced trainer demonstrator to carry Russian-built weapons following the split from Italy's Aermacchi, which is separately developing the aircraft with Western avionics and engines as the M346.
Aermacchi and Yakovlev started development of the twin-engined Yak-130 in 1993, with the first flight three years later. But Aermacchi split from its partner last year as it is seeking to offer the aircraft for potential competitions later in the decade.
Yakovlev is modifying the demonstrator, which has logged 254h in 305 flights, to carry a 3,000kg (6,600lb) weapons load of 250kg and 500kg bombs, 57mm and 80mm rockets, and 23mm gun pods, plus Molniya R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) and Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infrared-guided air-to-air missiles.
Konstantin Popovich, Yakovlev's chief designer, military programmes, says guided air-to-surface weapons such as the Zvezda Kh-25 (AS-10 Kedge) are being considered. He says the Platan laser/TV designator pod or the pod-mounted variant of the Phazotron-NIIRKopyo multimode radar would be used for targeting, mounted on an under-fuselage hardpoint.
Yakovlev believes the combination of high subsonic speed (Mach 0.95), a 0.81 thrust-to-weight ratio, the ability to fly at angles of attack up to 42í with +8/-3g manoeuvring capability and the ability to operate from 1,000m (3,280ft) runways will give the aircraft better survivability than other advanced trainers/ light attack aircraft.
Russian air force trials of the Yak-130 are pencilled in for 2004 after a first series production aircraft is completed in 2003. It will have a glass cockpit and avionics from RPKB Ramenskoye, and RD-35/DV-2 engines jointly built by Russia's Klimov and Slovakia's Povazske Strojarne.
Source: Flight International
