The Yak-130 advanced jet trainer is not cavorting about the skies over Farnborough, but company executives are on hand at the Irkut stand (Hall 1 E8) to discuss its capabilities and give an update on the program. At one time a joint venture with Aermacchi, which is participating in the flying display with its M346 of similar design, the Russian aircraft is so far the only new generation trainer that has been ordered both by its national air force and for export.
In today’s fiercely competitive market, there is clearly a need to train pilots to fly third and fourth generation combat aircraft, while fifth generation fighters will also soon enter service. Tight defense budgets have encouraged air forces to delay the selection and acquisition of an appropriate advanced jet trainer and indeed some have opted to buy the earlier-generation BAE Hawk in its latest guise. Consequently, of the new-generation trainers, only Korea’s T-50 has entered service. The Italian air force has ordered the M346 but the German-designed EADS Mako project was dropped after failing to secure an industrial partner and the Chinese L-15 is not yet ready to tackle export markets.
