Friday, August 14, 2009

DTN News: Sokol Starts Deliveries Of Yak-130 Combat Trainers To Russian Air Force

DTN News: Sokol Starts Deliveries Of Yak-130 Combat Trainers To Russian Air Force *Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti (NSI News Source Info) NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia - August 14, 2009: Sokol, a Nizhny Novgorod-based aircraft maker, has started deliveries of new Yak-130 combat trainers to the Russian Air Force, the company said on Thursday. The Yak-130 combat trainer was selected as the winner of the trainer competition of the Voyenno Vozdushnyye Sily, Russian Federation Air Force, in April 2002. The aircraft is also being actively marketed for export by Yakovlev, the Irkut company, and by Rosoboronexport. The Russian Air Force has a future requirement for 300 Yak-130 aircraft that can be deployed as a light strike aircraft or as a trainer for a range of fourth or fifth-generation fighters. An order has been placed for the first 12 aircraft to replace aging Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros. The aircraft will enter service in the Russian Federation Air Force at the military pilot training academy in Krasnodar. The production line for the aircraft at the Aviation Plant Sokol in Nizhny Novgorod, known as NAZ Sokol, is fully operational and the roll out of the first production series aircraft took place in May 2003. A series of flight tests of the serial production aircraft was started in April 2004 and will be completed in early 2006. The Russian Air Force ordered official testing in May 2005. The full trials of the advanced combat trainer, including spin and combat tactics trials, are underway and are due to be completed by the end of 2008 prior to delivery of the first two production aircraft to the Russian Air Force. In March 2006, it was announced that Algeria had placed an order for 16 Yak-130 trainers. Deliveries are due to commence in 2009.* The Yak-130 single-seat aircraft can be used as a light strike aircraft or as a trainer for fourth and fifth generation fighters. With its production line launched in May 2003, the plane is also being marketed for export. "We delivered the first Yak-130 in late July, and it will be showcased at the MAKS-2009 air show [on August 18-23 near Moscow]," said Alexander Karezin, Sokol's general director. In April 2002, the Yak-130 was chosen as a basic aircraft for Russian Air Force pilot training. Under an initial contract with the Defense Ministry, Sokol will deliver a total of 12 Yak-130s by the end of 2010. The Russian Air Force is planning to commission about 200 Yak-130s to equip four air regiments in the future. The Yak-130 is a highly maneuverable aircraft with an extended range of about 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) and a maximum speed of 1,060 km/h (600 m/h) in level flight. It can carry a combat payload of up to 3,000 kg (6,600 pounds), consisting of a variety of Russian and Western developed weapons. According to Russian Air Force commander, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, the first Yak-130 trainers will be used for pilot training at the Krasnodar Military Flight School. Russia will also start deliveries of 16 Yak-130s to Algeria in 2010.

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