Bangladesh plans to purchase 24 Yak-130 aircraft

According to Viktor Komardin, the Deputy Chief of Rosoboronexport, Russia and Bangladesh will negotiate the purchase of 24 Yakovlev Yak-130 aircraft. Negotiations are due to start in the spring.

The deal is to be financed using a $1 billion credit line that was granted by Russia to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh during her visit to Moscow in January.

The Yak-130 is a two-seat, multi-role Lead-In Fighter Trainer that can be used for training, light attack and reconnaissance mission. It features a glass cockpit with advanced avionics and digital fly-by-wire.

The aircraft features a rugged design and landing gear, which allows it to land or takeoff from unpaved and unprepared landing strips. The Yak-130 specifications are:

• a crew of 2
• a length of 11.49 m
• a wingspan of 9.72 m
• a height of 4.76 m
• an empty weight of 4600 kg
• a maximum takeoff weight of 9000 kg
• a maximum payload of 3000 kg
• a maximum speed of 1050 km/hr
• a range of 2000 km
• a ceiling of 12500 m

The aircraft is powered by 2 Progress AI-222-25 turbofans, each with 2500 kgf of thrust.

Currently, the Yak-130 is in service with the Air Forces of Russia and Algeria. Contracts for the Yak-130 had also been signed with Libya and Syria, but are on hold due to the current situation in the two countries.

The Yak-130 basic design has been used by Yakovlev and Italy's Alenia Aermacchi to develop the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master for the Italian Air Force. Israel and Singapore have placed additional orders for the M-346 Master.


http://en.rian.ru/world/20130327/180281752/Bangladesh-Plans-to-Buy-24-Russian-Jet-Trainers.html

By Adrian [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons