Upon completion of acceptance of five Yak-130 operational trainers the jets performed ferry flight from Irkutsk to Armavir training air base, Interfax-AVN reports with reference to the representative of the press-service of Russian Ministry of Defense on Air Forces, Colonel Igor Klimov.

“Pilots of the air force scientific training center performed the longest flight ever on Yak-130 operational trainers: they covered a distance of over 5,5 thousand kilometers and made three intermediate stops in Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk and Borisoglebsk in order to refuel the aircraft,” I. Klimov said.

He added that today the air base operates 8 jets of the type.

Yak-130 developed and manufactured by Irkut Corporation is the two-seat next-generation operational trainer designed for pilot training and combat missions performed under normal and severe weather conditions. The jet is capable of destroying ground and air targets. 

This aircraft demonstrates the parameters close to advanced fighters at subsonic speeds in terms of aircraft performance and maneuverability. That is why it is used for training of future pilots of “4+”-generation and fifth-generation fighters. Moreover, it may be operated from unpaved runways.

Yak-130 operational trainers have been used for training of cadets at Borisoglebsk-based air force scientific training center since 2013.

At present the fleet of Borisglebsk air base comprises 48 Yak-130 jets.