Posted on 08/09/2014 11:44:56 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The Yakovlev Yak-130 is Russia’s newest trainer aircraft, capable of being programmed to recreate a range of different flight conditions for trainee pilots as well as functioning as a ground-attack craft. Russia now hopes to take advantage of the plane’s export potential.
Within the next two or three years, Moscow intends to present the Yakovlev Yak-130, its newest trainer aircraft, to a wider world market.
In comments made at the recent Farnborough International Airshow outside London, Sergei Kornev, head of the Department for Exports of Aircraft and Special Property at Rosoboronexport, the Russian exporter of armaments and military equipment, described the Yak-130 as not only one of the best trainer aircraft in the world, but also a plane that can act as a light ground-attack aircraft, which Russia’s foreign partners find of particular interest.
"Simple and flexible"
The Yak-130 is one of the main hopes of Russian military aviation. Development work on the aircraft began as far back as in the 1980s, and was focused on producing a primary trainer aircraft capable of flight simulation for all types of modern and prospective fighters. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union put an end to the work.
Under the terms of the deal, the Italians were to have provided airborne equipment for the plane and act as agents to sell the aircraft on the world market, with property rights divided 50/50. But in the end the Italians abandoned the aircraft and developed their own, the M-346.
In the Russian army, the Yak-130 is called "the flying iPhone”: It is reliable, easy to manage and, most importantly, highly oriented to a specific customer and their needs.
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines - http://rbth.com/defence/2014/08/09/the_yak-130_the_russian_armys_flying_iphone_38543.html)
(Excerpt) Read more at rbth.com ...
An aircraft that tries to do everything ususally is not very good at anything.
Short, stubby, with 'way too much ordinance hanging off of it.
Does not look like much, if any, radar would fit in there.
Reminded me of the A-4 as well. Nice for Close-in Air Support.
Two of the “best” close air support ever built were by Douglas Aviation. The AD Skyraider and the A4D Skyhawk had incredible bomb load to aircraft weight ratios.
The AD could - and did - fly close air support missions at 25 ft. standing on its nose due to the huge air brakes. Armed with 4-20mm cannons, it was a very effective enemy reduction platform.
The A4D was capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, which was dropped in an “over the shoulder” maneuver. The A4D would come in at low altitude, pull up in a steep climb and turning it into a loop. When it started to loop back, it would release the bomb.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.