18 Yak-130 operational trainers will be delivered to the Russian air forces this year, Director of Irkut Corporation Engineering Center, Konstantin Popovich, told journalists at Paris Air Show, Golos Rossiyi radio station reports.

"According to our plans, we must deliver 18 jets this year. The deliveries are on schedule and I believe that all the jets will be delivered to the customer by November", - Popovich said noting that this refers to deliveries of Yak-130 jets to the Russian air forces.

According to him, the deliveries are in progress. "Recently another batch of six jets was ferried to Borisoglebsk air base", - he said.

Popovich noted that the fleet of Borisoglebsk training center comprises 38 aircraft. "This figure includes the jets delivered severalyears ago. The pre-delivery included a batch of 11 aircraft; the jets were upgraded while in operation", - the corporation’s representative explained.

Irkutsk aviation plant is manufacturing Yak-130 jets delivered to the Russian air forces and foreign customers. "It is quite easy for us, because both versions of the jet have a 98% commonality", - Popovich noted.