The first of 12 Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft ordered by the Russian Air Force is undergoing flight acceptance tests at Sokol.

The Russian Air Force selected the Yak-130 as a base aircraft for lead-in and advanced training of Russian pilots.

The air force will employ the aircraft for flight and combat training and for combat operations in all weather conditions against aerial and ground targets.

The aircraft, capable of performing at subsonic speeds, can carry a total combat load of 3,000kg.

The trainer will form an important element of the Russian Air Force’s training suite that includes integrated system of objective monitoring and full-mission and part-task simulators.