Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
On September 2, Iran received advanced Yak-130 training and light combat jets from Russia, according to Iranian media reports.
At least two Yak-130 were reportedly delivered. Video footage that surfaced on social media showed one of the jets landing at what was said to be Tactical Air Base 8 of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) near the central city of Isfahan.
The delivery marks the first time new jets entered service with the IRIAF since the 1990s, when Iran received a few MiG-29s from Russia.
The Yak-130 was originally designed by Yakovlev for training missions. As an advanced trainer, the jet is able to replicate the characteristics of several fourth-generation and fifth-generation fighters. The jet can also perform light-attack and reconnaissance duties with a combat load of 3,000 kg.
In April, Iran announced that it had finalized a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. Under the deal, the IRIAF is supposed to receive 24 Su-35s which were originally built for Egypt as a part of a contract that was thwarted by the United States.
Later reports said that the Russian-Iranian deal fell apart. However, the delivery of Yak-130, which can be used for training on the Su-35, suggests that the deal is still alive.
Military cooperation between Iran and Russia has been reportedly growing since the start of the special operation in Ukraine last year. The United States and its allies claim that Iran supplied Russia with hundreds of suicide and combat drones for use against Kiev forces. However, both Moscow and Tehran deny this.
The delivery of the Yak-130 jets could lead to tensions with Israel, who could escalate its covert war against Iran and boost military cooperation with Ukraine.
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i do admire iranian ingenuity on how they made many advanced weapons but modern combat aircraft is way above their ability. they really need to buy modern combat aircraft like the su-35 and su-30 to replace their older much less capable aircraft. they could work out a deal with russia to start assembly these aircraft up to making them like india does.
their most capable aircraft is the us made f-14 but it is a late 70’s early 80’s aircraft. they done a great job of keeping some flying but i sure they replace many older us made components with older russian components which mean in modern engagements their f-14’s would be at a great disadvantage!
the iranians are weird. they desperately need new aircraft to replace their american aircraft from the 60’s and 70’s, and they probably could have easily bought su-30’s and su-35’s from russia, but they keep on letting these deals fall apart because they want the full technology to build them themselves. but no country is that stupid to just hand their technology over. you gotta at least order x amount of aircraft. as russia and france regularly do with india.
iran already bought around 30 cy-35c’s that were destined to egypt which canceled the order at the last minute, the yak-130 is the aircraft on which the cadets will qualify to fly their brand new cy-35c.
to by šlo. rf by mala viac spolupracovať z štátmi ktoré nemajú dobré vzťahy z usa!!! a mali by im poskytnúť pomoc a tak isto vybavenie ktoré im pomôže bojovať proti usa!!! usa sú čisté zlo a preto treba proti nemu bojovať všetkými dostupnými prostriedkami. kde je to potrebné tak aj silou.
not a very happy day for zionist criminals. the yak-130 is a primary russian trainer for 4++++ gen aircraft and that means that su-35s are sure to follow soon.
it has larger tail fin than a shark from a spielberg movie…