Russia Nears Vietnam Yak-130M Export Deal
Vietnam is close to finalizing a contract for Yakovlev Yak-130M advanced jet trainers, a senior Russian industry official says, in what would be the first export deal for the platform.
Irkutsk Aviation Plant Director Andrei Soynov said the deal for 18 trainer aircraft was in the process of being signed, newspaper Kommersant reported. The comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the assembly line.
The Yak-130M deliveries would start at the end of 2028, newswire TASS said, citing another facility official.
Yakovlev has assembled three Yak-130M prototypes. First flight took place in June and nine missions have been logged.
Soynov expressed hope that the upgraded aircraft will secure backing from the Russian military, which bought about 100 of the baseline trainers to train pilots to operate the Sukhoi Su-30 family of heavy fighters. The baseline Yak-130 can also carry up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb.) of weapons, but its loadout was limited to the R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missile, TV-guided and free-falling bombs and unguided rockets.
The upgraded Yak-130M can also be used as a light ground-attack aircraft. It features the Tikhomirov NIIP BRLS-130R radar in the nose cone and a pod with laser and thermal SOLT-130 sighting systems to enable pilots to employ laser- and satellite-guided bombs.
The aircraft also can be used with four underwing gun pods for ground-attack and counterdrone missions.
Vietnam bought 12 baseline Yak-130s in 2019 in a deal worth more than $350 million to replace Czech-made Aero L-39 jets. Two crashed during training in 2024 and 2026.
The Yak-130Ms are likely to replace Sukhoi Su-22 bombers in the country’s air force, says Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Moscow-based defense think tank Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. Vietnam has a requirement for about two dozen Su-22 replacement aircraft, Aviation Week Fleet Discovery data shows.
Irkutsk Aviation Plant Director Andrei Soynov said the deal for 18 trainer aircraft was in the process of being signed, newspaper Kommersant reported. The comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the assembly line.
The Yak-130M deliveries would start at the end of 2028, newswire TASS said, citing another facility official.
Yakovlev has assembled three Yak-130M prototypes. First flight took place in June and nine missions have been logged.
Soynov expressed hope that the upgraded aircraft will secure backing from the Russian military, which bought about 100 of the baseline trainers to train pilots to operate the Sukhoi Su-30 family of heavy fighters. The baseline Yak-130 can also carry up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb.) of weapons, but its loadout was limited to the R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missile, TV-guided and free-falling bombs and unguided rockets.
The upgraded Yak-130M can also be used as a light ground-attack aircraft. It features the Tikhomirov NIIP BRLS-130R radar in the nose cone and a pod with laser and thermal SOLT-130 sighting systems to enable pilots to employ laser- and satellite-guided bombs.
The aircraft also can be used with four underwing gun pods for ground-attack and counterdrone missions.
Vietnam bought 12 baseline Yak-130s in 2019 in a deal worth more than $350 million to replace Czech-made Aero L-39 jets. Two crashed during training in 2024 and 2026.
The Yak-130Ms are likely to replace Sukhoi Su-22 bombers in the country’s air force, says Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Moscow-based defense think tank Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. Vietnam has a requirement for about two dozen Su-22 replacement aircraft, Aviation Week Fleet Discovery data shows.