Pakistan is interested in purchasing Yak-130 operational trainers

Representatives of Pakistani air forces negotiated deliveries of Yak-130 operational trainers with Rosoboronexport and Irkut Corporation in the network of their recent visit to Moscow, TASS reports with reference to Defenseworld.net

Pakistan is interested in purchasing Yak-130 operational trainers. Representatives of Pakistani air forces already held a meeting with management of Rosoboronexport and Irkut Corporation in the network of their recent visit to Moscow.

“Pakistan is interested in purchasing jets of the type, because it doesn’t have such aircraft at the moment”. The source noted that Pakistani experts have highly appreciated Yak-130 and noted that “its unique capabilities and performance close to F-16 and JF-17 fighters operated by the national air forces, will make transition from the operational trainer to a real combat aircraft easier for pilots”.

Last year Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov said that Russian embargo on delivery of weapons and military equipment to Pakistan was lifted and negotiations on delivery of a batch of helicopters to the country were held. The source added, “this decision was welcomed by Pakistan and disfavored by neighboring India”. Yak-130 is designed for training of future pilots of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. The jet is capable of destroying ground and air targets. Its highly reliable KRET integrated control system (ICS) featuring a reprogramming capability allows the pilot to prepare for operating not only Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters, but also F-16, F-15, Rafale and Typhoon, F-22 and F- 35 jets.