Potential and advantages of the Yak-130 aircraft
Yak-130 with combat load. Photo by "UAC"
Since the beginning of the 130s, serial combat training aircraft Yak-130 have been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces. They gradually replace outdated equipment and become the basis for the training system for young pilots. The Yak-XNUMX has broad training capabilities, and they were obtained through the development and implementation of a number of important solutions.
Promising project
Development of a new combat trainer (CT) to replace the existing L-39 fleet began in the late XNUMXs. Over the next decade, the program went through a competitive phase, with the Air Force comparing designs from various aircraft manufacturers and selecting the best.
One of the participants in the competition was the Yakovlev company with its UTS-Yak project, which later received the Yak-130 index. The project was developed in the first half of the nineties, and in 1996 the prototype first took to the air. In 2002, it won the competition and was further developed. Refinement of the design and improvement of the onboard equipment continued almost until the end of the decade.
Serial production of the Yak-130 began in the late 2010s at two sites at once: Sokol in Nizhny Novgorod and the Irkutsk Aircraft Plant. The first production batch was ready in XNUMX and soon entered service. Since then, the production of new combat trainers, their delivery to the troops and their commissioning have become a regular and continuous process.
Construction of the Yak-130 at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, 2020. Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense
The production of the Yak-130 continues to this day. Recently, the industry handed over another batch of aircraft to the Ministry of Defense. To date, the training structures of the Ministry of Defense and the Aerospace Forces have received at least 160-180 units and put them into service.
As production continues, the new Yak-130s are replacing the remaining L-39s in service. It is known that the number of the newest UBSs already exceeds the number of obsolete machines in service. All this leads to a fleet renewal, and also gives our VKS new training opportunities.
Russian trace
At the stage of the Yak-130 project development, Yakovlev joined forces with the Italian firm Aermacchi. Later, the cooperation ceased, but under the terms of the agreement, the Italian aircraft manufacturers received documentation for the airframe and some technical solutions of the Russian project.
Based on the documentation received, Aermacchi developed its own version of the UBS, the M-346. Despite using a ready-made concept and some of the developments, the M-346 differed from its Russian counterpart in its design and equipment. The first prototype of the Italian UBS took to the air in 2004.
The forward cockpit of the aircraft. Photo Airwar.ru
By the end of the 346s, Aermacchi had completed testing and development of its UBS and was accepting orders. The M-8 attracted the interest of the Italian Air Force, and soon XNUMX export orders were received.
It is interesting that not only Italy showed interest in the concept and ideas of the Yak-130 project. In 2001, the Chinese company Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation presented a model of its training aircraft under the designation L-15. Externally, it resembled the already flying Russian aircraft and the Italian one being designed.
The prototype L-15 was built in 2005, and in 2006 it made its first flight. Testing and improvements continued until the beginning of the 2013s. The new combat trainer entered service with the PLAAF in XNUMX. Subsequently, the Chinese industry received three orders from foreign countries.
Since the middle of the last decade, the Turkish company TAI has been developing its project of a promising UCAV, externally similar to existing models. The development of the Hürjet aircraft was completed in 2021, and in April 2023, the prototype made its first flight. In the near future, the new aircraft is planned to be adopted by the Turkish Air Force and presented on the international market.
The upgraded Yak-130M combat helicopter and compatible weapons. Photo by UAC
Design features
The Yak-130 is a high-wing aircraft with a normal aerodynamic configuration and a swept wing, two engines and a two-seat tandem cabin. It is designed to train pilots before moving on to front-line aircraft. aviationThis aircraft can also be used as a light fighter or attack aircraft.
The Yak-130 is approximately 11,5 m long and has a wingspan of 9,84 m. The dry weight of the aircraft is 4,6 t, the normal takeoff weight is 7,7 t, and the maximum is 10,3 t. In the attack or fighter version, the combat load can reach 3 t.
The Yak-130 is equipped with two AI-222-25 turbojet engines with a thrust of 2500 kgf each. The aircraft is subsonic and develops a speed of no more than 1050 km/h. Stability in flight is maintained at speeds of up to 180-150 km/h. The service ceiling is 12500 m, and the service range is 1850 km.
A digital integrated control system KSU-130 was developed for the Yak-130. It includes several computers for different purposes, a set of sensors, an electric remote control system with actuators and other components.
The two cockpits are equipped with instrumentation based on three large-format liquid crystal displays. Traditional pointer indicators are absent. The front cockpit, intended for the pilot being trained, is equipped with an indicator on the windshield. Both cockpits are equipped with class "0-0" ejection seats.
Serial Yak-130 for the Russian Aerospace Forces. Photo by UAC
The KSU-130 system has a mode for simulating flight characteristics, controllability and stability of aircraft of different types. In the latest versions, it is capable of simulating the entire fleet of domestic fighters and bombers of the 4th and 5th generations.
The Yak-130 can carry different types of weapons. For air combat, it is equipped with rockets short-range R-73. For work on ground targets, unguided missiles of domestic types and various bombs with a caliber of up to 500 kg, including guided ones, are offered.
Great benefits
The Yak-130 combat training aircraft has a number of characteristic features that determine its technical, operational and performance characteristics. It compares favorably with domestic and foreign combat training aircraft of previous generations and provides significant advantages in the process of training pilots. The high potential of the Russian Yak-130 has led to the emergence of a number of foreign analogues.
The Yak-130 has a successful airframe design. Its aerodynamics provide high flight and maneuverability characteristics, which are necessary for modeling other aircraft and training pilots. At the same time, the construction process does not use excessively complex technologies and materials, which simplifies production and repair.
For comparison, the Italian M-346 UBS has similar aerodynamics, but is assembled using composites. This design does not give it significant advantages, but increases the cost of construction and complicates repairs.
Yak-130 before takeoff. Photo by UAC
The key advantage of the Yak-130 over the previous generation of UBS is its special control system. The electronic fly-by-wire control system (EDSU) with computers not only transmits signals from the controls to the rudder drives, but is also capable of making adjustments to this process. Due to this, the KSU-130 system imitates the stability, controllability and maneuverability parameters of other aircraft.
The simulation modes used in the KSU-130 system allow pilots to train in controlling specific types of aircraft. They help master complex piloting, maneuverable air combat, etc. It is also possible to practice the use of air-to-surface weapons, including situations with the presence of Defense conditional adversary.
The KSU-130 system on Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft has modes for simulating all the main models of domestic frontline aviation. This means that the Yak-130 can train future pilots of MiG-29/35 and Su-27/30/35 fighters, as well as Su-34 bombers. A similar model of the newest Su-57 aircraft has probably been developed.
The export version of the Yak-130 can receive software with other operating modes. In this case, it is possible to imitate common foreign tactical aircraft, such as the F-15, F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon and others.
During a demonstration flight. Photo by UAC
The Yak-130 carries various weapons as standard. This allows the pilot training program to be expanded through real shooting, launches, or drops. In addition, if necessary, the training aircraft will be able to participate in combat operations, complementing full-fledged frontline aircraft.
New concept
The Yak-130 project was based on the original concept of a combat training aircraft with an expanded set of functions. For the first time in domestic and world practice, the combat training aircraft received a special control system that can simulate the parameters and behavior of combat aircraft.
In this regard, the Yak-130 and similar aircraft are fundamentally different from previous generations of UBS, which had limited functionality. Thanks to fundamentally new systems and functions, it was possible to significantly increase the efficiency of pilot training. In addition, the foundations were laid for further renewal of the aircraft fleet, without the need to replace training equipment.
The Yak-130 is produced in a fairly large series and supplied to both the Russian Aerospace Forces and foreign customers. In addition, the Russian combat training aircraft has served as an incentive for the creation of several foreign projects. All this confirms the potential of the Russian aircraft, and also demonstrates the correctness of the chosen concept and the solutions applied.
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