BD to get Yak-130 aircraft from Russia

Russia has delivered the first batch of Yakovlev Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft (NATO reporting name Mitten) to Bangladesh, reports UNB.

The plane allows training pilots in flying four-plus and fifth-generation combat aircraft, Russian media reports.

The delivery process started on September 17.

The shipping of the first Yak-130 consignment to Bangladesh started on September 17, with six aircraft out of the 16 ordered planes to be delivered.

Bangladesh is the second foreign country beyond former Soviet states to order the Yak-130 combat trainer. Algeria had received 16 of the type before it.

At first, Bangladesh wanted 24 Yak-130s, but had to reconsider due to financial constraints.

Irkut Corp is to deliver the Russian Defence Ministry 55 Yak-130s during 2011-16 under the current contracts the company has landed under the defence procurement programme.

Four Yak-130s were acquired by Belarus and four aircraft more ordered by the country at the MAKS-2015 air show are to be delivered in 2016.