Article Posted on : - Nov 15, 2011

The Yak-130 jet.

MOSCOW (BNS): The Russian Defence Ministry and Irkut Corporation are negotiating a contract for the delivery of Yak-130 advanced jet trainers to the Russian Air Force.

Russian Air Force Chief Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, who visited the Irkutsk aviation plant last week, said that negotiations on the contract were going on with price terms already being approved and the deal would be finalised soon.

Irkut has been contracted to deliver 65 Yak-130 trainer jets to the Russian Air Force.

The subsonic two-seat advanced trainer jet/light attack aircraft has been designed to replicate the traits of a range of fourth or fifth-generation fighters.

The Yak-130 jets have been inducted in the Russian Air Force since February 2010. Russia plans to induct over 250 such planes in its fleet.

Col. Gen. Zelin said that there was a plan to create a piloting group flying the Yak-130 combat trainers which will represent the Russian Air Force in the country and abroad along with the famous Russkiye Vityazi (The Russian Knights) and Strizhi (The Swifts) aerobatic teams.

Meanwhile, the Air Force expects to receive the new Su-30SM multi-role fighters from Irkut Corporation by 2012.

"Initially 28 Su-30SM are planned to be delivered, however, the number is not final and could be increased in the future. The first two Su-30SM fighters are expected to be supplied to the Russian Air Force as early as next year," Zelin said.