The Yak-130 is now not only the most modern trainer, but the most current jet in the IRIAF inventory. Reports and observers say it could help in training Iranian pilots before the rumored arrival of the Su-35S.
More than a year after the images and videos of the first batch of Iran’s Russian-made Yak-130 advanced jet trainers emerged in Sep. 2023, another image has now appeared showing one of the jets carrying an R-73E SRAAM (Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile). The tandem-seat aircraft is also flying in the Iranian white-saffron-green paint scheme.
Iranian defense news profile ‘MESHKAT’ identified the missile, adding that the Yak-130 can carry four of the missiles on two hardpoints under each of the wings. Another post by ‘Aamir’ said the R-73 was a training round, with the location possibly being near Isfahan air base.
The image also follows claims, late in October, which said Russia had completed the delivery of 12 Yak-130 trainers to Iran. The Sep. 2023 picture showed the aircraft in Iranian colours, with the registration number 7-9701 on the side of the nose cone.
Military analysis pages at the time said two airframes had reached Iran. In another thread, MESHKAT added that the tail number on this Yak-130 in question is 106, which based on the registration records of the first two aircraft, could mean its registration is 7-9705.
A newly released photo shows the Yak-130, an advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft operated by the Air Force, armed with R-73E short-range air-to-air missiles.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/yd2ZoJ06cx
— MESHKAT (@ProjectmeshkatE) December 8, 2024
Another video from April 2024 by Iranian citizens on the ground showed an Iranian Yak-130 in a low-level flypast, conducting aerobatic maneuvers over a flat desert region. The picture of the jet and its weapons payload marks a possible turnaround for the IRIAF. The service operates U.S.-made F-14 Tomcats, F-4E Phantom IIs, F-5 Tigers, and Russian-made MiG-29 Fulcrums.
Iran also has the homegrown Yasin trainer aircraft, making the Yak-130 not only the most modern trainer, but the most advanced jet in the IRIAF inventory. More significantly, it signals the possible arrival of Russian Su-35S fighters at some point in the future, as reports say 24 have been acquired by Iran.
An IRIAF Yak-130 trainer carrying an R-73 training round, likely near Isfahan airbase.
It carries serial no. 106, meaning IRIAF has at least 6 Yak-130s in service. pic.twitter.com/cwsL2lBSKh
— Aᴍɪʀ (@AmirIGM) December 8, 2024
Operational use in Iran
The Yak-130, like the KAI FA-50, the Leonardo M-346, and future planned iterations of the Turkish Hurjet, is also meant as a light attack and point defense aircraft with heavy payloads of air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry. While unlikely to be used against Israeli fighters like the F-35, F-15 or the F-16, the jet could become a force multiplier when used for area defense of military facilities or air bases attempting to intercept UAVs or cruise missiles.
Its defining role however is that of a CAS (Close Air Support) aircraft, which according to Tasnim News can carry several tons of ordnance on the wings and fuselage. The weapons include a 23 mm gun pod, 250 and 500 kg bombs, 80, 122 and 330 mm rockets, Kab-500 guided bombs, Kh-29 air-to-surface guided missiles and R-73 AAMs. With a range of around 800 km, extendable by using external fuel tanks, the Yak-130 can also carry two electronic warfare pods on both the wing tips.
طبق مصاحبه آقای رومن تاسکاف همچین چیزی اسمشه تست پایلوت (خلبان آزمایش گر ) شرکت هواپیمایی متحد روسیه UAC سه پروتوتایپ (پیش نمونه) هواپیمای تهاجمی سبک و آموزشی YAK-130M ساخته شده و در حال گذراندن آزمایشات خود است.
حالا این جنگنده چیست؟
خب این جنگنده همان یاک ۱۳۰ است که یک… pic.twitter.com/irMnTXdFDj
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— Reza_Mad (@maysam21901) October 14, 2024
A video of the Yak-130 with a full payload of two each of external fuel tanks, rocket pods, R-73 missiles and EW pods during the 2012 Farnborough Air Show also showed an interesting feature of its air intake doors that opened during takeoff.
Some observers also put the Yak-130 in the LIFT (Lead-In Flight Trainer) category, as they can rapidly train pilots on advanced jet trainers that are also frontline fighters. In Tehran’s case, the Yak-130 can protect its nuclear sites, defense industry and bases by coordinating with its considerably advanced air defense systems, and possibly with its Russian-made Su-35S, whenever it enters service.
Flight training
The Yak-130’s biggest utility would be to train Iranian pilots for the Su-35S before it reaches the IRIAF fleet, according to Jerusalem Post and leading Iranian affairs commentator Abdolrasool Divsallar. The IRIAF F-14 and F-4 fleets have long been bogged down by unavailability of U.S. spares and components, after U.S. law enforcement agencies finally began cracking down decades of sanction-evading aerospace parts smuggling by North America-based Iranians. Both the combined access to parts and absence of a reliable trainer had painfully impacted the airworthiness and safety of Iran’s American aircraft.
Trainee pilots can now more reliably learn BFM (Basic Fighter Maneuver), use of fire control radars, weapons, land-attack and aerial engagement procedures before proceeding to the squadrons to fly on frontline fighters. Until now, in the absence of an airworthy air force, Tehran developed an equally powerful drone and missile-centric military. The Yak is also used in Algeria, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Belarus, Myanmar and Syria, which have either ordered or used this aircraft, Jerusalem Post added.
Iranian Armed Forces confirmed Yak-130 Arrival. pic.twitter.com/9Vr0RXXgp0
— International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) September 2, 2023
Yak-130
The Yak-130 was originally a collaborative project between the YDB (Yakovlev Design Bureau) and Italy’s Aermacchi. While the project did not move forward, both countries proceeded with their individual programs, leading to similarly designed aircraft. Rome’s M-346 Master entered service in 2010, produced by Leonardo, Aermacchi’s successor. YDB’s Yak-130 meanwhile supplemented the aging fleet of Czechoslovakian Aero L-39 Albatross trainers.
The aircraft was inducted in the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) in Jul. 2009 and was first unveiled at the MAKS 2009 air show. The first limited series aircraft were manufactured in May 2003, followed by flight tests of the final production variant in April 2004.
It is now confirmed that the recent sightings of Russian AN-124, were bringing in YAK-130 jets. The footage was posted by various social media accounts, & has been confirmed by state media
YAK-130 is used to train pilots for more advanced Russian aircraft like SU-35S & SU-30SM2 https://t.co/nalC6zFooF pic.twitter.com/Q1ZiDybVYU
— Iran Defense|نیروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ایران (@IranDefense) September 2, 2023
Official testing took place in May 2005, and complete trials of the advanced combat trainer, including spin and combat tactics trials, were concluded in Dec. 2009. The first four of 12 Yak-130s reached RuAF units between Feb. 2010 and Apr. 2010, with other five aircraft reaching in Apr. 2011, as per Russian reports. About 120 Yak-130s are reportedly now in service in the RuAF.
