Aircraft & UAVs

Yakovlev Yak-130

Also known as
  • Yak-130
  • Yakovlev Yak-130
  • Yak/AEM-130D
  • Yak-130D
  • Yak-130M

The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a Russian two-seat combat trainer and light-attack aircraft designed by Yakovlev and built through the Irkut/Yakovlev line inside United Aircraft Corporation. Official Russian sources frame it as a training aircraft able to simulate modern fighter employment and carry up to 3,000 kg of stores, while conflict records document Myanmar ground-attack sorties and an Iranian Yak-130 shot down during the 2026 Iran War.

Yakovlev Yak-130, Combat trainer / light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Wikimedia Commons Yakovlev Yak-130

Role in Conflicts

2021 Myanmar Civil War
Fire Support
Side
State Administration Council and allied forces

The Myanmar military used Yak-130 jets for ground-attack sorties, including unguided rocket and 23 mm cannon fire in and around civilian-populated areas.

2026 Iran War
Side
Iran
Role in conflict
Iranian Yak-130 shot down

The IDF said an Iranian Air Force Yak-130 was shot down over Tehran by an Israeli F-35I during the 2026 Iran War; public sources checked for this record do not establish the aircraft's mission loadout.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
Combat trainer / light attack aircraft
Service note
2010s-present
Designer
Yakovlev Design Bureau
Designed
Early 1990s; concept approved in 1993
Produced
2004 full-production-configuration aircraft at Sokol; Irkutsk Aviation Plant joined production in 2006; Russian operation from February 2010

Specifications

Crew
2
Dimensions
11.493 m length x 9.856 m wingspan x 4.643 m height
Maximum takeoff weight
10,290 kg
Engines
2 x AI-222-25 turbofans
Engine thrust
2 x 2,500 kgf
Combat payload
3,000 kg
Hardpoints
9
Armament
GSh-23-L 23 mm autocannon plus rockets and bombs
Maximum speed
1,060 km/h
Maximum Mach
0.93
Service ceiling
12,500 m
Range
1,600 km standard range; 2,100 km with external tanks
Internal fuel
1,700 kg
External fuel
2 x 450 kg
Training systems
Reprogrammable digital flight-control system and embedded/simulated weapon training
Cockpit
Multifunction displays in each cockpit, with HUD and helmet-mounted sighting system in the front cockpit
Training And Light-Attack Design

The Yak-130 is presented by UAC and Rosoboronexport as a combat-training aircraft rather than a pure trainer. Its digital flight-control and avionics architecture lets instructors train simulated weapons employment, while the aircraft can also carry real air-to-air and air-to-ground stores for light-combat tasks.

Training role

UAC describes the aircraft as part of a broader training complex with live monitoring, computer classrooms, procedure trainers, flight simulators, and specialized simulators.

Flight controls

UAC says the integrated control system has a reprogramming mode for changing stability and controllability parameters during training.

Rough-field protection

UAC describes protective inlet flaps that close while moving on the ground to reduce foreign-object ingestion during takeoff and landing.

Modernization path

Rostec says the Yak-130M adds modern radar, onboard systems, and a broader weapons package intended for training and light-fighter tasks.

Variants

Yak-130 designations cover the Yakovlev-Aermacchi demonstrator and the modernized Yak-130M light-fighter-oriented development.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Yak/AEM-130DPrototype and demonstrator

UAC traces the demonstrator's first flight to 25 April 1996 during the Yakovlev-Aermacchi development period.

Sources: UAC Yak-130 specifications

Yak-130MModernized combat-trainer/light-fighter development

Yakovlev presented the Yak-130M modernization in 2024 with radar, electro-optical, defensive, communications, and expanded weapons changes; Rostec reported the prototype's first flight on 25 June 2026.

Sources: Yakovlev Yak-130M project, Rostec Yak-130M first flight

Fired Armament

Myanmar Witness directly identifies Yak-130 cannon and rocket use in Myanmar service; broader manufacturer claims cover generic missiles and bombs but are not converted into exact munition links here.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
GSh-23L cannon, Twin-barrel 23 mm aircraft cannon, Aircraft & UAVsGSh-23L cannon23 mm aircraft cannon

Myanmar Witness identifies the Yak-130's main armament as a GSh-23-L 23 mm autocannon and documents Yak-130 cannon fire in Myanmar.

Sources: Myanmar Witness Yak-130 guide

S-8 rocket family, 80 mm unguided air-to-surface rocket family, MunitionsS-8 rocket family80 mm unguided aircraft rocket family

Myanmar Witness lists S-8KO 80 mm rockets in the Yak-130's Myanmar weapon fit and documents unguided rocket fire from Yak-130 sorties.

Sources: Myanmar Witness Yak-130 guide

Timeline

Yakovlev Yak-130 Key Events

  1. Russian trainer concept approved

    UAC says the Yakovlev Design Bureau's new operational-training aircraft concept was approved by Russia's Ministry of Defense in 1993, with Yakovlev and Aermacchi cooperation continuing through 1999.

    Sources: UAC Yak-130 specifications

  2. Yak-130D demonstrator flies

    UAC identifies April 25, 1996 as the first flight of the Yak-130D demonstration aircraft.

    Sources: UAC Yak-130 specifications

  3. Russian trainer tender won

    UAC says the Yak-130 was declared the winner of the Russian Defense Ministry trainer tender on April 16, 2002.

    Sources: UAC Yak-130 specifications

  4. Irkutsk production joins the program

    UAC says Irkutsk Aviation Plant joined Yak-130 production in 2006 and later became the exclusive supplier of the aircraft.

    Sources: UAC Yak-130 specifications

  5. Russian service begins

    The Yak-130 entered Russian service in 2010 as a twin-seat advanced trainer with a light-attack role.

    Sources: UAC Yak-130 specifications

  6. Myanmar combat use documented

    Myanmar Witness documented Yak-130 aircraft being used for airstrikes with unguided rockets and 23 mm cannon fire in Myanmar.

    Sources: Myanmar Witness Yak-130 provenance report

  7. Iran War shootdown reported

    The IDF said an Israeli F-35I shot down an Iranian Air Force Yak-130 over Tehran during the 2026 Iran War.

    Sources: IDF F-35I shootdown report

  8. Yak-130M first flight reported

    Rostec reported that an experimental Yak-130M made its first flight at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, flying for about 50 minutes at up to 2,000 m altitude and 600 km/h.

    Sources: Rostec Yak-130M first flight

Media

Yakovlev Yak-130 Videos

Yakovlev Yak-130 Images

Yakovlev Yak-130, Combat trainer / light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons Yak-130 engine inlet
Yakovlev Yak-130, Combat trainer / light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons Yakovlev Yak-130 modify
Related Weapon Systems
IA-63 Pampa, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIA-63 PampaAdvanced jet trainer and light attack aircraftThe IA-63 Pampa is an Argentine tandem-seat jet trainer and light attack aircraft built by FAdeA in Córdoba for advanced pilot training, tactical instruction, and domestic airspace-control duties. Design work began in 1979 with Dornier cooperation, the prototype made its first official flight on 10 October 1984, and the modern Pampa III Block II adds virtual training, data-link communications, updated avionics, and five optional hardpoints.
Su-25, Ground-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSu-25Ground-attack aircraftThe Su-25 is a Soviet-designed armored close air support aircraft built for low-level battlefield strike, rough-field operation, and heavy stores carriage. Developed by Sukhoi and produced in Soviet, Russian, and Georgian factories, the twin-engine subsonic jet combines a protected cockpit, internal 30 mm cannon, and multiple pylons for rockets, bombs, missiles, and adapted guided weapons, with documented use from Afghanistan and Iraq to Darfur, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Ukraine.

Sources

UAC Yak-130 specificationsPublisher: United Aircraft Corporation | Note: Supports Yak-130 background, UAC/Irkut production context, Yakovlev-Aermacchi development history, Russian service entry, cockpit/training-system context, and published performance/specification details. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Myanmar Witness Yak-130 guidePublisher: Centre for Information Resilience | Note: Supports the 2021 Myanmar Civil War direct-use context, Yak-130 identification cues, armament context, and the aircraft's light-attack role in Myanmar. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Myanmar Witness Yak-130 provenance reportPublisher: Centre for Information Resilience | Note: Supports the 2021 Myanmar Civil War direct-use record: the Myanmar military used Yak-130 jets in ground attacks, including unguided rocket and 23 mm cannon fire, and the report tracks their provenance and inventory. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Rosoboronexport Yak-130 product pagePublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Supports Yak-130 export background, combat-trainer and light-combat mission framing, maximum takeoff weight, speed, range, payload, hardpoints, and example associated stores. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons Yakovlev Yak-130Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the primary image and its Commons/Flickr-reviewed CC BY 2.0 licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons Yak-130 engine inletPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports a secondary Yak-130 gallery image and its Commons CC BY 4.0/GFDL licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons Yakovlev Yak-130 modifyPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports a secondary Yak-130 gallery image credited to Mil.ru under Commons CC BY 4.0 licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03IDF F-35I shootdown reportPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports 2026 Iran War direct-use context: the IDF said an Israeli F-35I shot down an Iranian Yak-130 in an aerial engagement over Iran. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Business Insider F-35 Yak-130 shootdownPublisher: Business Insider | Note: Supports 2026 Iran War direct-use context: Israel said an F-35I shot down an Iranian Air Force Yak-130 over Tehran on 4 March 2026. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Yakovlev Yak-130M projectPublisher: PJSC Yakovlev | Note: Supports Yak-130M modernization context, including the Army-2024 presentation, planned prototypes, 130R radar, SOLT-130K optical locator, President-S130 defense suite, KSS-130 communications unit, and expanded weapons claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Rostec Yak-130M first flightPublisher: Rostec | Note: Supports Yak-130M first-flight reporting on 25 June 2026 at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant and the modernized aircraft's expanded combat-trainer/light-fighter framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-03AP Iran Yak-130 air forcePublisher: Associated Press | Note: Supports Iranian Yak-130 service context: Iranian news agencies reported that a Russian-made Yak-130 combat trainer had joined Iran's Air Force in 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-03