The russians have shown the first upgraded Yak-130M combat trainer, which is due to go for testing as well as make its first flight soon. Given the active increase in deep strikes by the Ukrainian side against military facilities on russian territory using long-range strike UAVs, it would be interesting to consider the possible role of the Yak-130M aircraft in countering this.
In particular, the russian UAC (PJSC United Aircraft Corporation) reports that in addition to the first aircraft, two more are in production. At the moment, we are not talking about a serial production, but just about a test batch, which will consist of three aircraft in total.
Read more: russia Starts Supplying Yak-130 to iran: What Kind of Aircraft It is and Its Purpose
Let us recall that the Yak-130M aircraft was promoted by the russians not only as a training aircraft, but also as a combat aircraft, namely as an attack aircraft. For this purpose, the aircraft was equipped with an onboard radar station BRLS-130R as well as an optical-electronic station SOLT-130K (in a suspended container), which should allow it to hit ground targets.
However, in addition to the use of high-precision "air-to-ground" means with laser and satellite guidance, the possibility of using "air-to-air" weapons is also noted. That is, theoretically, the Yak-130M can become a "drone hunter".
Although the russians do not have an analogue of the APKWS kit for the 70-mm unguided aircraft rockets that Ukraine and the United States use to shoot down drones, they do have a guided version of their 80mm unguided aircraft rockets - the S-8L, which also has semi-automatic laser guidance. In particular, the S-8L rocket was intended for installation on the Termit unmanned aerial vehicle, but, if necessary, can be integrated onto another platform.
Given the above-mentioned possibility of installing laser-guided weapons on the Yak-130M aircraft, theoretically, it can be equipped and used to detect and destroy UAVs – especially thanks to an on-board radar, which will facilitate the detection of a potential target.
Currently, the aircraft has not received any stable orders either for export or for russia's own needs, and the entire project has rather vague prospects. Moreover, the S-8L rocket has also not entered mass production and, it seems, still exists only in mock-ups.
In view of the above, although theoretically the Yak-130M aircraft could be made in a “drone fighter” configuration, currently none of the components have been brought to mass production.
Despite of the fact, russians claimed export demand for 40 Yak-130M light combat aircraft.
Defense Express wrote earlier on was it true that сombat Yak-130M could replace Su-25 attack aircraft in russia.
Read more: Became Known How Many Ukrainian Mi-8 Helicopters Were Equipped with 70 mm Rocket Launchers to Better Withstand russia’s Drone Attacks
