Citat:Algeria is emerging as a potential launch customer for the upgraded YAK-130M aircraft, the newest version of the Yakovlev YAK-130, likely featuring an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and primarily designed for the export market.
During the Army-2024 Forum held in Kubinka, near Moscow last week, an Algerian delegation was observed closely inspecting the YAK-130M.
This marks the second consecutive year that Algerian officials have shown keen interest in the YAK-130M at the event, indicating a growing consideration for its acquisition.
Sources from United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of Yakovlev, which manufactures the YAK-130, neither confirmed nor denied Algeria's intentions when questioned at the Army-2024 event.
These advancements position the YAK-130M as a multirole combat aircraft, capable of executing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It also serves as a testbed for future modernizations, potentially paving the way for similar upgrades to other Russian aircraft such as the Su30SM/MKI and Su-34.
A Yak-130 aircraft in new pixel camouflage was photographed in Irkutsk on August 22, 2024, on the occasion of the Russkiye Vityazi group's training before show. The number 090 was given on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Irkutsk aviation plant. It is probably one of the aircraft belonging to the Yakovlev office.
Repainted Yak-130 - Irkutsk, August 22, 2024.
The first aircraft in such camouflage was shown by UAC on August 12, 2024, at the Army-2024 exhibition, with the number 001. Probably this is one of the Yak-130 prototypes, converted into a Yak-130M demonstrator. Three prototypes are to be built for trials of the combat-training aircraft Yak-130M.
Yak-130M demonstrator in flight - February 21, 2024.
Armed Yak-130M demonstrator - 2024.
Yak-130M demonstrator during Army-2024 exhibition - August 12, 2024.
