The Yak-130 combat trainer has racked up another 82 firm orders to add to the 76 already announced for the Algerian and Russian Air Forces, says Oleg Demchenko, president of Irkut Corp. Although the customers are not being disclosed for the time being, they all come from countries that are currently operating Russian combat trainers, he says.
Developed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau, which is part of the Irkut enterprise, the two-seat trainer is currently undergoing its final flight trials, says Demchenko.
The first six of Algeria’s order for 16 Yak-130s will be delivered next year with the balance of 10 following in 2009. The Russian Air Force has a contract to take 12 Yak-130s so far while Demchenko says the Russian Ministry of Defence has a commitment for a further 60 of the type.
Demchenko estimates there is a market demand for some 1,200 combat trainers up to 2025 and believes the Yak-130 can capture at least 100-180 of these.
As the show started, the first two Su-30MKM multi-role fighters for the Malaysian Air Force were dispatched to the south-east Asian state. Irkut is producing 28 of the type for Malaysia. A slightly modified version of the aircraft, the Su-30MKI, is being produced for the Algerian Air Force. It will receive 12 fighters shortly and a further six by year-end, says Demchenko.
Source: Flight Daily News
