May 25, 2012: Strategypage.com
This is shaping up as a bad year for Russia's new Yak-130 jet trainer. It's recently been revealed that the
Russian Air Force will not use any Yak-130s as combat aircraft. The Russians had planned to buy 200
Yak-130s for use as light attack aircraft (called Yak-131). But it was determined that the pilots were too
vulnerable. This was particularly critical for an aircraft that would often go low to deliver attacks. This would
expose the aircraft to ground fire and the air force determined that it would be better to refurbish the older
Su-25 ground attack aircraft instead. These are being upgraded to the Su-25SM standard.
The ten ton Yak-130 can carry an external load of three tons (of bombs, missiles, cannon pod, or fuel tanks).
Max range, on internal fuel, is 2,000 kilometers.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-DBuhLpoe4M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
This is shaping up as a bad year for Russia's new Yak-130 jet trainer. It's recently been revealed that the
Russian Air Force will not use any Yak-130s as combat aircraft. The Russians had planned to buy 200
Yak-130s for use as light attack aircraft (called Yak-131). But it was determined that the pilots were too
vulnerable. This was particularly critical for an aircraft that would often go low to deliver attacks. This would
expose the aircraft to ground fire and the air force determined that it would be better to refurbish the older
Su-25 ground attack aircraft instead. These are being upgraded to the Su-25SM standard.
The ten ton Yak-130 can carry an external load of three tons (of bombs, missiles, cannon pod, or fuel tanks).
Max range, on internal fuel, is 2,000 kilometers.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-DBuhLpoe4M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
