IRKUTSK, September 28. /TASS/. The Yak-130M combat training aircraft can be equipped with four gun mounts, which will double the probability of destroying enemy drones, Alexander Guskov, a test pilot at PJSC Yakovlev, said.
"It will be possible to mount not only short-range but also medium-range missiles on it. To combat unmanned aerial vehicles, it will be possible to mount four cannon pods on it as well. This will significantly increase firepower and rate of fire, which will at least double the probability of hitting [the target]," he said.
Guskov specified that the aircraft will take on its final form after the third flight prototype is unveiled, featuring upgraded engines and a power system.
The Yak-130M is an extensively modernized Russian two-seat combat training aircraft, developed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau based on the Yak-130 model, which made its maiden flight on June 25, 2026. A key feature of the new version is its transformation into a full-fledged combat aircraft. As part of the extensive modernization, more than 50% of the aircraft’s equipment was upgraded. In particular, it was equipped with advanced onboard targeting systems and a modern radar station.
As a result, the Yak-130M gained the capability to use a wide range of weapons, including missiles and bombs, to engage both air and ground targets.
