Despite public display of confidence, prospects remain gloomy (489 words)

Published: 8/14/2001

After considerable controversy, the embattled Yakovlev Bureau has reported that it will continue to develop the Yak-130 advanced trainer on an independent basis, after "completing" the joint $200m programme with Italy's Aeromacchi - largely financed by the Italian company - to create the Yak-130D technology demonstrator. The bureau added that focus of the new development is the development of a Russian variant of the aircraft for pilot training and close support of the ground forces. This in contrast to the Italian M346 with Western engine and avionics, which is now being developed separately, after the two sides split earlier this year. According to Konstantin Popovich, Chief Designer for military programmes, Yakovlev is currently modifying the existing demonstrator to carry a weapons load of 3,000-kg, including R-60 and R-73 air-to-air missiles with the use of air-to-surface weapons, such as the Kh-25, using the Platan target designator pod or the containerized Phazatron-NIIR Kopyo multimode radar mounted on a fuselage hard point. The bureau believes that the Yak-130 has a unique combination of performance characteristics that give it capability over existing light attack aircraft and combat trainers, including high subsonic speed, thrust-to-weight ratio and high climb rate, along with the ability to operate from unpaved runways of 1,000 m. It is unclear, however, if the bureau's efforts will make a substantial difference to the aircraft's prospects, given that the Russian Air Force has already reached an agreement to operate and evaluate the MiG-AT, under lease from MiG from September, within the category of “military certification”. The recent reports of the MiG-AT's potential success in the Indian tender also diminish the chances of adoption by the Russian Air Force, despite similar plans being discussed for the Yak-130, although not until 2004, following the planned completion of the first pre-series aircraft at the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod. According to Yakovlev, the first pre-series aircraft will be equipped with a glass cockpit from Ramenskoye. The power plant however, has not been confirmed, but it seems unlikely to be the RD-35 (DV-2) engines, built jointly by Russia's Klimov and Slovakia's PovaÏské Strojárne Letecké Motory (PLSM) in serial production, if it goes ahead. This is partly because of funding problems dogging the Slovakian company as well as the possibility of newer engines form other sources, such as the AI-222-2.5 from ZMKB Progress and MMPP Salyut or the Al-55. Popovich optimistically believes that the successful completion in 2004 of Yak-130's “military certification” will help Yakovlev to export the aircraft. This is somewhat wishful thinking, given both the requirements of funding and time, and the sweeping changes happening in the Russian aerospace industry. Despite the presence of its General Director as one of the ministers in charge, the changes leave Yakovlev looking increasingly peripheral as an independent player and one where its main product, the Yak-130, appears to be without friends, either within or without Russia.

Article ID: 2704