On 19th May 2009 the first of 12 Yak-130s ordered by the Russian AF conducted its maiden flight. The aircraft is due for handing over to the customer after acceptance tests at "Sokol" aviation plant (Nizhny Novgorod).

The sortie was performed by a crew of test-pilots Roman Taskaev, Hero of Russia, and Sergey Kara. In the course of a successful 32-min flight the crew tested the aircraft stability and controllability, its take-off/landing performance. All the systems performed impeccably.

The new-generation Yak-130 combat trainer is developed by Yakovlev Design Bureau (subsidiary of Irkut Corporation). It is manufactured at "Sokol" aviation plant in Nizhny Novgorod and Irkutsk aviation plant.

Yak-130 was selected as a base aircraft for initial and advanced training of the AF pilots.

The aircraft is intended for flight and combat training of the pilots as well as combat employment in normal and adverse weather conditions to destroy aerial and ground targets. Total combat load at 9 suspension points may reach 3,000 kgs.

Advanced aerodynamics, onboard new-gen avionics, latest aircraft systems and power plant ensure:

- high efficiency of training and combat employment;

- top level of flight safety;

- low cost of flight hour and service life.

The Yak-130 flight performance and maneuverability approach those of modern fighters at subsonic flight speed.

Yak-130 is a key component of the Russian AF training suite that also comprises integrated objective monitoring system, training computer-based classes, full-mission and part-task simulators.