Yak-130
Yakovlev · Russia · first flew 1996 · fighter
A Russian twin-engine advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft with fighter-like handling.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Stepped tandem canopy on a broad fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large leading-edge root extensions blending into the wing
- Twin turbofans with intakes under the wing roots
- Stepped tandem canopy on a broad fuselage
Large blended wing-root extensions, twin underwing-root intakes and a broad fuselage identify it. It closely resembles the M-346, sharing the common original design.
Specifications
- The Yak-130 has a length of 11.49 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.84 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1060 km/h (659 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (instructor and student).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Yakovlev flew the Yak-130 in 1996, originally as a joint project with Aermacchi that later split into the related M-346. Its twin AI-222 turbofans and prominent leading-edge root extensions give it high angle-of-attack agility to emulate modern fighters. It entered Russian service from around 2010.
Variants
The baseline Yak-130 trainer has been developed into armed and upgraded versions, with the Yak-130M proposed as a light combat derivative.
Where you'll see it
The Yak-130 is not an RAF type; it serves Russia and export customers including Algeria, Belarus and others. Its Western counterpart from the same origin is the Leonardo M-346, which competes with Hawk-class trainers.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.