Irkut is at the show promoting its Yakovlev-designed Yak-130 advanced jet trainer for the Middle Eastern market, as it also nears the receipt of a new order from the Russian air force and first deliveries to export customer Algeria.
The Algerian air force will get its first of 16 Yak-130s before year-end, with its initial batch of pilots having already received flight instruction in Russia. The trainers will be used to prepare them to operate the service's Sukhoi Su-30MKA fighters.
Irkut claims the type has a lower unit cost and greater ground-attack potential than rivals such as the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and BAE Systems Hawk 128, as it can already carry up to 3,000kg (6,610lb) of weapons.
"Nowadays we place our main efforts on expanding markets for the Yak-130," said Irkut president Alexei Fedorov. "We realise that many countries worldwide, this region included, are inclined to have this type of aircraft in their inventory."
Irkut is awaiting the finalisation of a follow-on order from its domestic customer, with Russian air force commander General Alexander Zelin having last week announced that a 65-unit deal will be signed soon. The service began training combat pilots using the Yak-130 in April 2011, and could eventually acquire 250-300 of the aircraft.
Fedorov also identified fighter-related business and increased manufacturing activities in the civil aircraft sector as priorities. Current orders for the Su-30 multi-role combat aircraft will see production continue until at least 2017, with Irkut confident of extending this with new sales in Russia and on the international stage. Large-scale modernisation projects with users such as the Indian air force are also envisaged.
- All the latest news, video and images from the 2011 Dubai air show
Source: Flight Daily News
