As Iran awaits the speculated delivery of the Su-35 fighter jet from Russia, its latest military aircraft, the Yak-130 trainer, is now ostensibly armed with the popular Soviet-origin R-73 air-to-air missile, providing the aircraft with an attack option.
An image of one of the Yak-130 aircraft surfaced on social media on December 8. An account that posts updates on the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces and goes by the name ‘Iran Military‘ published the image of the aircraft on X with the caption that read: “First image of an Iranian Yak-130 light combat aircraft in flight – stay tuned!”
The aircraft appeared in the green, saffron, and white paint scheme—representing the colors of the national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, what piqued the interest of the military watchers was the fact that the Iranian Yak-130 was seen with a missile for the first time.
The missile was identified as an R-73E Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile by the Iranian defense news profile “MESHKAT,” which also stated that Iran had likely received six Yak-130 military aircraft from its ally Russia. The Yak-130 is reportedly capable of carrying four missiles on two hard points beneath each wing.
The development came more than a year after Tehran received the Yak-130 military trainer aircraft from Russia, which was believed to be barter for Iran’s continued military support to Moscow in the ongoing Ukraine War. The aircraft was reportedly delivered to Tehran in September 2023, bolstering Iran’s efforts to modernize its aging and near-obsolete Air Force.
At the time, media reports and military watchers observed that the trainer aircraft would aid the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) in training its pilots on its frontline fighter aircraft like the Russian MiG-29, US-made F-4 Phantom II, and F-14 Tomcat, which currently make up its offensive air power.
More importantly, though, the delivery of the aircraft was seen as a precursor to the arrival of Su-35 combat aircraft in Iran. It was earlier reported that Tehran would receive as many as 24 Su-35s originally produced by Russia for Egypt—a deal that Egypt later canceled, reportedly due to pressure from the United States.
While reporting the arrival of Yak-130 in Iran, the state’s local media went so far as to say that the main objective of these aircraft was to train Iranian pilots in handling advanced fighter jets such as the Su-35.
However, more than a year later, the delivery of the Su-35 fighter jet is yet to take place. In late November, social media was abuzz with claims that six Su-35s were being assembled and would be delivered to the Hamadan Airbase by Russian pilots. However, neither side officially acknowledged the story.
The uncertainty does not augur well for the aging IRIAF. Iran has been under US sanctions since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and its air force is primarily composed of third and fourth-generation vintage aircraft from the Cold War. Tehran also struggles to maintain these aircraft due to a lack of authentic spare parts.
Despite Iran’s projection of it as a vital military and political force in the Middle East, its air power is very limited.
As Iran awaits the delivery of the Su-35 to reinforce its air fleet, the Yak-130 would likely function as a trainer cum light attack fighter within the IRIAF. The presence of the R-76 missile also suggests the dual role the Yak-130 is expected to perform for Tehran.
Yak-130 As A Light Fighter
Besides being a trainer for the advanced Russian aircraft, the Yak-130 has a secondary light attack capability that allows it to strike enemy ground formations and take on the role of a massive force multiplier.
For instance, the military junta in Myanmar has used its Yak-130s for airstrikes—an example that the geriatric Iranian Air Force can emulate.
With a digital cockpit and fly-by-wire controls, the Yak-130 mimics the flight characteristics of modern fighter jets. Although subsonic, it provides a cost-effective option for small air forces that need training and combat capabilities. It can fly from a variety of runways, making it a versatile platform.
The Yak-130 can conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground combat and provide basic and advanced training for aspiring front-line pilots—a mix that makes the aircraft ideal for the IRIAF. The aircraft can also help train for close air support missions and carry several tons of ammunition, such as different weapons placed on the wings and fuselage.
One of the key features of the Yak-130 is its ability to maintain stable, controlled flight at angles of attack up to 35 degrees, which places it on par with more advanced fighters such as the MiG-29, Su-30, and even the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, as previously explained by the EurAsian Times. With an excellent thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.8, it can endure high g-forces and deliver impressive climb and take-off performance.
The plane can fly at 41,020 feet, has a maximum take-off weight of 3,000 kilograms, a top speed of 1,060 kilometers/hour, and a range of 1,600 kilometers. It has a detachable in-flight refueling probe and a three-hour endurance (with two drop tanks). Moreover, according to some reports, it can also carry extra fuel tanks and two electronic warfare pods on either end of the wings to extend its operating range.
In addition to the recently photographed R-73, the Yak-130 can carry KAB-500 guided bombs, Kh-29 guided missiles, 80-mm, 122-mm, and 330-mm rockets, and 250- and 500-kilogram bombs.
Though Iran is unlikely to fight an aerial battle with its adversaries like Israel and the United States, the possibility of conflict is never off the table in West Asia. The Yak-130, equipped with lethal weaponry, would, thus, bolster the capability of the Iranian Air Force, which remains vastly inferior and outnumbered compared to its adversaries.
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