First Yak-130 for Laos

24 Desember 2018

Presumably, the first combat training aircraft Yak-130, received by the Laotian Air Force (tail number "044"). Vientiane, December 2018 (photo : AeroLaos)

A widespread shot from a video from a Lao resource, which allegedly demonstrates the first Yak-130 combat training aircraft received by the Lao Air Force. It is reported that this aircraft (tail number "044") was delivered to the capital of Laos, Vientiane on December 20, 2018 from Irkutsk on board the IL-76TD transport aircraft (registration number RA-78765) of the Russian airline Aviakon Tsitotrans.

Previously, there was no information on the conclusion by the Russian side of the contract for the supply of Yak-130 aircraft to Laos, although in the beginning of 2016, Russian media spread information about the interest of the Laotian military to the Yak-130, and it was stated that Laos "can get 16-20" of these airplanes. Analysis of the Lao military media shows that since the end of 2017, they have repeatedly published materials on the Yak-130 aircraft. 

Thus, if the information on the delivery of the Yak-130 to Laos is correct, this state will become the fifth foreign recipient of the Yak-130 aircraft produced by the Irkutsk Aviation Plant PJSC "Irkut Corporation", after Algeria (received 16 cars), Bangladesh (16), Myanmar (six) and Belarus (eight units). 

(BMPD)