RuAviation

United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has completed the first prototype of the upgraded Yak-130M advanced jet trainer/light-attack aircraft. The airframe is ready to enter ground and flight testing under a program to modernize the trainer fleet of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).

UAC said the prototype was built at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ) and has been dispatched for tests. Two additional airframes are in assembly.

The Yak-130M builds on the production Yak-130 baseline. It features updated avionics, a revised powerplant, and an enhanced weapons system with expanded combat capability. The aircraft is designed to train light fighter tactics and employ modern precision munitions in combat-representative environments. The upgrade focuses on avionics and mission systems.

The suite includes the BRLS-130R airborne radar, the SOLT-130K electro-optical/laser targeting system, the President-S130 self-protection suite, and the new KSS-130 communications link. This fit increases target detection range, improves weapons delivery accuracy, and strengthens resistance to electronic warfare. The podded defensive aids suite is intended to counter air- and surface-launched missile threats.

Modernization also targets the powerplant. At the Army-2023 forum, United Engine Corporation (UEC) unveiled the SM-100 engine, derived from the AI-222-25. The new engine delivers 20% higher thrust with no increase in weight or dimensions and doubles service life. The gains result from redesigned compressor, combustor, and turbine modules.

The program’s primary objective is to evolve the Yak-130 from a trainer into a light combat platform capable of employing air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles with satellite and laser guidance. The Yak-130M retains full training functionality while gaining light fighter capability. This combination enhances export appeal for operators seeking a versatile aircraft with low operating costs and credible combat utility.

Furthermore, the Yak-130M could perform combat support tasks in localized conflicts and counter unmanned aerial system (UAS) threats—an increasingly critical requirement. It can serve as a light attack aircraft for close air support and short-range air defense in theaters where deploying heavier, more expensive front-line fighters is impractical.