Irkut Corporation is going to deliver more than 10 Yak-130 operational trainers to Bangladesh in 2015, Interfax-AVN reports.

“Irkut Corporation is successfully implementing a contract for delivery of Yak-130 operational trainers to Bangladesh. More than 10 jets of the type should be delivered to the customer this year,” a source said.  He noted that the first group of pilots from Bangladesh was trained to operate Yak-130 jets at Irkutsk Aviation Plant. 

“The training program was rather intense – over 320 flight hours. The first group completed its training in late July,” the source said. It was reported earlier that Russia signed a contract for delivery of 16 Yak-130 operational trainers to Bangladesh. Moreover, Irkut Corporation delivered 16 Yak-130 jets to Algerian air forces.

Yak-130 is the two-seat next-generation operational trainer developed by Yakovlev design bureau and 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.