Specialists of scientific training center of the Air Force Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky have completed acceptance of 5 new Yak-130 operational trainers at Irkutsk Aviation Plant. The jets have already performed ferry flight to their home base on route Irkutsk-Novosibirsk-Chelyabinsk-Borisoglebsk-Armavir, press-service of Russian Ministry of Defense reports.

“It took the engineers a week to check the quality of assembly, functionality of components and mechanisms, including engines. Prior to the ferry flight to Armavir air base the pilots performed a number of test flights,” said in the statement.

Yak-130 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, the ministry noted.

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