MAKS 2015: Irkut showcases Yak-130 strike upgrades

[Thunder Bolt]

Irkut presented a modernised Yak-130 'Mitten' trainer/combat aircraft fitted with a nose-mounted laser rangefinder at MAKS 2015. Source: Nikolai Novichkov
Irkut Corporation demonstrated for the first time at the MAKS 2015 air show its Yak-130 'Mitten' trainer/strike aircraft fitted with a nose-mounted laser rangefinder.

An Irkut representative stated that "the laser rangefinder enables using the Yak-130 over a very irregular terrain [mountains, ravines], improves the accuracy of target co-ordinate determination and that of the existing range of weapons".

The laser rangefinder has been fitted onto the Yak-130 in compliance with a foreign customer's requirements to improve the aircraft's strike capabilities.

"By now the upgraded Yak-130 has undergone aerodynamic trials and the new laser rangefinder has been tested for range and aiming precision," a Russian defence industry source told IHS Jane's . The source confirmed that weapons tests will also be conducted on the upgraded Yak-130.

The upgraded Yak-130 is also fitted with the Talisman electronic warfare suite developed by Belarussian company Defence Initiatives. However, the suite has not yet been tested on the Yak-130.

At the MAKS-2015 air show, Irkut Corporation also formally signed a previously revealed contract to supply a second batch of four Yak-130s to Belarus. The aircraft will be delivered in 2016.

 

[C130]

now only if you could carry Western weapons

 

[Penguin]

now only if you could carry Western weapons

Then get the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master instead, highly similar..

The aircraft is a development of the YAK/AEM-130, a joint programme with Yakolev Design Bureau and Sokol Manufacturing Plant of Russia. In July 2000, Alenia Aermacchi announced that it would cancel the joint project and develop the aircraft alone, as the M-346.
...
Armaments are carried on nine external store stations, six of which are underwing, equipped with 1,000lb class ejector release units, and two wingtip stations for air-to-air missiles. The under-fuselage station carries avionics pods or a 300l conformal fuel tank.
The system data presentation and control functions of the stores management system use any one of the multifunction displays in both cockpits. Hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls are used to select the weapons. Weapon aiming is controlled by the central main processor, aiming data being presented to the pilots through the head-up display (HUD) or the helmet-mounted display (HMD).
"The weapons carried by the M-346 include MK82 500lb and MK83 1,000lb free-fall or retarded bombs."
The weapons carried include: MK82 500lb and MK83 1,000lb free fall or retarded bombs; rocket launchers; AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles; Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles; MBDA (formerly Alenia) Marte MK-2A anti-ship missiles.
The external hard points can also carry the Vinten VICON-601 reconnaissance pod, laser designator pod, radar warning receiver pod and Elettronica ELT-55 electronic countermeasures pod.
For fighter trainer role, self-protection system functions and simulated tactical scenario threats are presented and monitored on the multifunction displays.
For operational roles, the aircraft is fitted with a radar warning receiver, chaff and flares dispensers, and active electronic countermeasures.

M-346 Master Advanced Fighter Trainer - Airforce Technology

yak-130
Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (644 mph)
• Cruise speed: 887 km/h (551 mph)
• Stall speed: 165 km/h (103 mph)
• Range: 2,546 km (1,582 miles)
• Service ceiling: 12,500 m (42,660 ft)
• Rate of climb: 50 m/s (10,000 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 276.4 kg/m² (56.60 lb/sq ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.78

Armament
A symmetric or asymmetric weapon load, weighing up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) and consisting of various guided and un-guided weapons, auxiliary fuel tanks and electronics pods can be carried on 9 hardpoints: 1 on each wingtip, 3 under each wing, and 1 under the fuselage

m-346
Performance

• Never exceed speed: Mach 1.2 (1,470 km/h, 793 knots)
• Maximum speed: 1,059 km/h (572 knots)
• Stall speed: 176 km/h (95 knots)
• Range: 1,981 km (1,070 nautical miles)
• Ferry range: 2,722 km (1,470 nmi) ; with 3 external drop tanks
• Endurance: 2.75 hours (4 hours with external drop tanks)
• Service ceiling: 13,716 m (45,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 6,705 m/min (22,000 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 285 kg/m² (58.3 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.84

Armament

• Hardpoints: Provisions for a total of 9 pylon stations (2× wingtip, 1× under-fuselage plus 6× underwing), capable of mounting up to 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) of external payload and up to 3× 630 litres (140 imp gal; 170 US gal) external drop tanks (only pylon stations 4, 5, 6 are wet-plumbed)