The second (in 2015) batch of Yak-130 operational trainers was delivered to Armavir air base, the third one is being prepared for delivery, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the representative of the press-service of Russian Ministry of Defense on Air Forces, Colonel Igor Klimov.

The first in 2015 five Yak-130 jets arrived at the air base in late January. Today the fleet of Armavir air base comprises 13 vehicles of the type.

“Pilots of the air forces ferried five new Yak-130 operational trainers from Irkutsk Aviation Plant to Armavir air base. During the long flight the aircraft demonstrated their best characteristics – excellent controllability and reliability of aircraft systems under any temperature and weather conditions. The acceptance of four more jets of the type is being carried out by specialists of the air base at the Irkutsk-based enterprise,” Klimov said.

Klimov noted that the temperature in Irkutsk was -20 Celsius at the time of departure, while temperature in Armavir was +15 Celsius. Throughout the flight the jets encountered dense clouds, abundant rainfall, strong front and cross wind.

“The pilots 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. All the systems functioned normally, pilots managed to perform instrumental landing and reach the airfield without any faults,” he added.

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.