Russia Upgraded Yak-130M Prototype Enters Trials with New Radar, Targeting, and Defensive Systems

On October 10, 2025, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) confirmed that the first Yak-130M prototype, built at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, has officially entered ground and flight testing, with two additional airframes in assembly. The announcement, made through Rostec, marks the beginning of a significant upgrade program aimed at extending the Yak-130’s role beyond advanced training to include credible light-combat operations under day-night, all-weather conditions.

The Yak-130M represents an evolution of the Yak-130 advanced jet trainer, originally designed by Yakovlev. Since its induction into Russian service in 2010, the Yak-130 has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT), bridging basic flight training and frontline fighter operations. The new modernization program reflects Moscow’s intent to refresh its training fleet while enhancing the platform’s combat value.

Technical Enhancements

According to Rostec, the Yak-130M prototype retains the twin-engine, tandem-seat configuration and embedded training systems of the standard Yak-130, but incorporates a comprehensive set of upgrades aimed at expanding its combat and mission versatility.

Key additions include the BRLS-130R radar, SOLT-130K electro-optical/laser targeting system, the President-S130 defensive aids suite, and the KSS-130 communications complex. Together, these systems significantly expand the aircraft’s operational envelope, allowing it to deploy air-to-air missiles, guided bombs, and precision air-to-surface weapons using satellite or laser guidance.

The radar enables detection and tracking of multiple aerial and ground targets, while the SOLT-130K system integrates infrared, television, and laser channels for day-night target acquisition. The President-S130 suite provides protection against radar- and infrared-guided threats using missile approach warning sensors, infrared countermeasures, and chaff/flare dispensers, improving survivability in contested environments.

The Yak-130M’s avionics and mission suite are optimized for 24-hour, all-weather operations, without compromising its Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) role. Its improved data links and mission computers allow realistic training simulations of advanced fighter avionics, supporting pilot transition to frontline aircraft such as the Su-30SM, Su-35, or MiG-35.

Preliminary Specifications (as reported for Yak-130 family, with Yak-130M upgrades expected to retain or enhance these parameters):

• Crew: 2 (in tandem configuration)

• Length: 11.5 m

• Wingspan: 9.8 m

• Maximum Take-off Weight: ~9,000 kg

• Engines: 2 × AI-222-25 turbofans (each rated at 2,500 kgf thrust)

• Maximum Speed: ~1,060 km/h (Mach 0.93)

• Service Ceiling: 12,500 m

• Combat Radius: 500–600 km (depending on payload)

• Ferry Range: up to 2,000 km with external fuel tanks

• Maximum Payload: up to 3,000 kg on 9 hardpoints

• Armament Options: R-73 air-to-air missiles, Kh-25ML air-to-surface missiles, guided bombs (KAB series), unguided rockets, and cannon pods

These upgrades and retained specifications suggest the Yak-130M will offer enhanced mission flexibility, survivability, and situational awareness, allowing it to serve as both a training platform and a light strike aircraft for domestic and export customers.

Operational Context

The Yak-130 family currently serves as the primary advanced jet trainer for the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) and has been exported to several countries. Operators include Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Laos, and Vietnam, while Iran received its first Yak-130 aircraft in 2023 and has since demonstrated their use in live-fire exercises involving guided munitions. This broad operational record gives the Yak-130 platform a proven foundation for modernization into the Yak-130M configuration.

Comparison with Other Light Combat Trainers

The Yak-130M’s modernization aligns with a broader global shift toward trainer-based light combat aircraft, offering multirole capabilities at a fraction of the cost of full-fledged fighters.

Comparable systems include Italy’s M-346FA, equipped with the Grifo-M-346 radar and a versatile weapons suite, and South Korea’s FA-50, derived from the T-50 Golden Eagle, which now operates as a frontline light multirole combat aircraft for air policing, training, and strike missions.

India has also pursued similar initiatives with the HAL HJT-36 Sitara and the more advanced HAL LCA Tejas Trainer variant. While the HJT-36 is primarily an intermediate jet trainer, it has been evaluated for limited light-attack roles. The Tejas Trainer, sharing avionics and weapons with the Tejas Mk1 fighter, doubles as both a conversion trainer and a combat-capable platform, capable of air-to-air and precision air-to-ground missions.

If the Yak-130M’s BRLS-130R radar and SOLT-130K targeting suite deliver their intended performance, the aircraft would place itself in the same category as these systems—able to perform close air support (CAS), light strike, and air defense missions while maintaining low operational costs and comprehensive pilot training capabilities.

Industrial and Strategic Role

From an industrial standpoint, the Yak-130M ensures continuity for Russia’s aerospace sector by maintaining production at Irkutsk while offering a platform suitable for both domestic and export markets. Strategically, it supports two objectives:

1. For the Russian military, it strengthens the pilot training pipeline with modern avionics that mirror frontline fighter systems, while providing a deployable light-attack asset for regional or secondary operations.

2. For export, it targets Asia–Pacific, Middle Eastern, and African markets where air forces seek cost-effective multirole aircraft that can both train pilots and undertake combat missions.

The Yak-130M test phase will evaluate the integration of its new radar, optical, and defensive systems, as well as overall performance in operational and training environments. If successful, the aircraft could enter serial production within the next few years, offering Russia and potential customers a versatile and affordable solution for combined training and combat needs.

The development of the Yak-130M underscores a practical shift in military aviation — adapting proven trainers into light combat platforms capable of supporting modern air operations at reduced cost. The current testing campaign will determine how effectively this upgraded design can transition from concept to squadron service.