IRKUTSK, September 11. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Russia will deliver the first batch of Yakovlev Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft (NATO reporting name Mitten) to Bangladesh on September 17, Rostec Director General Sergei Chemezov said on Friday.
"The shipping of the first Yak-130 consignment to Bangladesh will start on September 17, with six aircraft out of the 16 ordered planes to be delivered," Chemezov said.
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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 Defense Ministry 55 Yak-130s during 2011-16 under the current contracts the company has landed under the defense procurement program.
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.
The Yak-130 is designed for basic and combat training. It can be used in the attack aircraft capacity as well. The plane allows training pilots in flying four-plus and fifth-generation combat aircraft. The Yak-130 completed its maiden flight in 1996 and was selected in 2002 as the primary aircraft for training Russian military pilots.