The Yak-130 is modified into combat attack

 Scientific and Production Corporation "Irkut" began to develop high-tech attack aircraft based training jet Yak-130. This is due to a high demand in Russia and abroad for a light attack aircraft.

- Development started a few years ago, and now we can plan the first phase 2013-2014. Wait attack aircraft Yak-130 air shows in the world in a short time - promised "News" informed a representative of the military-industrial complex, familiar with the situation.

He stressed that the financing of work is at the expense of own funds of the corporation. The car will be packed full of high-tech equipment. It will equip the impact television-set of thermal imaging, which allows to detect targets in bad weather and at night, and possibly airborne radar.

Onboard electronics focused on compatibility with the high-precision weapon with a laser, television and satellite guidance. Classic unmanaged bombs and missiles also find a place in the compartments. A source in the KLA stressed that even the technology of installation on aircraft refueling system. Practical range "Gauntlet" (aircraft by NATO called Mitten) grow from two thousand miles to 4-5 thousand

Segment light attack aircraft for the global arms market - one of the most dynamic, and Russia it is not presented. Here are running the show, British Hawk, Italian-Brazilian AMX and familiar Russian Czech L-39, which was being prepared Soviet pilots.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia's second largest exporter after the United States military aircraft. Therefore, the situation in the niche of light attack aircraft is unacceptable, says the KLA.

Classic attack aircraft like the Russian Su-25 or the American A-10 Thunderbolt II - is a powerful aviation system that the bulk of world importers too expensive ($ 25 million - $ 60 million, depending on configuration and model), and without special military necessity. A light attack is much less expensive (up to $ 15 million), rarely have more than one ton of weapons, do not have reservations, they have weak sighting system, but this is enough for low-intensity conflicts.

Another advantage of the light attack aircraft - a relatively low cost of operation. Since they are based on the training machines, require no pilot training.

Plans "Irkut" endorse and Air Force. Source in the Main Command of the Air Force said, "News" that the Yak-130 combat ready "great export success," and the country it might be useful.

- Main Command will consider it and decide whether there is a need for it. Light attack is very good for the fight against illegal armed formations, where the economy is more important than the machine, not the vitality and security, - the high command officer.

Light attack aircraft in the world are moving to control the weapon to meet the growing demands of customers. Expert on modern armed conflicts Vyacheslav Tseluyko says that cheap used car is hardly preferable to a new high in the eyes of even the poorest of the importer.

- I used ground attack with unguided weapons effectiveness is very relative. The current rebel groups have a large number of anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, portable missile systems. But a new generation of light attack aircraft, armed with precision bombs and missiles, modern sights and search complexes capable of hitting targets without entering the zone of the defense - said the expert of "news."

He added that since the Yak-130 will be quite expensive, you can buy it, not all attend. But the strategy of "Irkut" justified by the fact that the niche of cheap light attack aircraft densely occupied the Chinese model, and Russia should seek a buyer in the segment of high technology.