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

First Type 056 Class Corvette / Light Frigate Commissioned

The lead ship of the Type 056 class with pennant number 582 of the Chinese Navy has been commissioned into service after completing trials. The official ceremony was shown on state television, which revealed a closer look inside the ship.

The ship is one of 10 hulls that have so far been launched or commissioned within a year at 4 different shipyards. The Type 056 has:

• a length of 95.5 m
• a beam of 11.6 m
• a draft of 4.4 m
• a speed of 28 knots 
• a crew of 60
• a displacement of about 1300 tons

The ship has a landing pad for helicopters but no hangar. The Type 056 have also been modified at the bow, stern and funnel prior to commissioning.

The Chinese Navy classifies the Type 056 as a frigate. By western standards, the Type 056 would be a corvette, a designation the Chinese Navy currently does not use.

Similar variations in ship classifications can be found in other Navies, where different definitions can be used. For instance, some of the latest Russian corvettes would be classified as frigates by western standards.

The Type 056 is also being marketed for export with the Bangladeshi Navy having ordered 2 hulls from China, build to its own specifications. In Chinese service, the current Type 056 is fitted with:

• one 76 mm H/PJ26 dual-purpose main gun
• an 8-cell HHQ-10 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
• two 30 mm guns alongside port and starboard
• 2x2 YJ-83 anti-ship missiles
• 2x3 324 mm torpedoes

The ship has been designed to have a low radar cross section.

The Type 056 will succeed the Type 037 and Type 053, while only requiring a fraction of the crew needed by its predecessors. The ships will primarily serve in escort, anti-submarine and anti-ship missions.

Credit original poster, via Chinese Internet

NORINCO PLZ91 / PLZ45 Self Propelled Gun / Howitzer artillery system

The PLZ45 is the export designation of the PLZ91 tracked Self-Propelled Gun / Howitzer  and developed by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) as a replacement for the 152 mm PLZ83. It was the first to adopt the French 155 mm gun standard, which is more compatible with the international arms market, instead of the previous Russian 152 mm standard.

The PLZ45 comes equipped with the same 45 caliber 155 mm gun found in the Type 89 or PLL01 towed gun / howitzer. The gun has a maximum rate of fire of 5 rounds per minute and is compatible with all standard 155 mm NATO rounds, including:

• ERFB/HE
• ERFB-BB/HE
• ERFB-BB/Cargo
• ERFB/Smoke
• ERFB/ILL
• ERFB/WP

The PLZ45 carries 30 rounds with 30 charges of ammunition. The turret can traverse 360 degrees and comes with a semi-automatic loader. It also carries a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft gun and two sets of four-barrel grenade launchers.

The PLZ45 has been exported to Bangladesh, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. However, except for limited numbers in a single battalion for training purposes, the PLZ91 has not been adopted by the Chinese army. Its role has been superseded in China by the more powerful PLZ-05 with a longer 54 caliber 155 mm gun.

PLZ45 specifications

Crew: 5
Weight: 33 tons
Length: 10.15 m
Width: 3.23 m
Height: 3.42 m
Ground Clearance: 0.45 m

Engine: air-cooled diesel 525 hp
Operational range on road: 450 km
Fuel tank capacity: 320 litre
Maximum Speed: 55 km/hr
Average Speed on road: 40 km/hr
Average Speed cross country: 30 km/hr