Russian defence exporter Rosoboronexport Showcases Upgraded Yak-130M With Advanced Radar, Precision Strike Capabilities

By A Staff Reporter

Dubai: At the Dubai Air Show, Russian defence exporter Rosoboronexport unveiled significant technological enhancements to the Yak-130M, positioning the aircraft as a cost-effective yet highly capable platform for modern air forces, particularly in low-intensity conflict zones. Representatives from the organisation detailed a broad suite of upgrades ranging from new onboard computing systems to advanced radar and precision-guided weaponry.

According to the company, the latest variant features modernised onboard equipment and a newly integrated central computing complex. The aircraft can now deploy a wider range of air weapons, including guided missiles and air-delivered bombs, enhancing its strike versatility. Rosoboronexport officials emphasised that the Yak-130M’s updated configuration offers an “effective alternative to multifunctional, expensive aircraft, whose capabilities might be excessive in low-intensity conflicts.”

One of the most notable upgrades is the incorporation of a state-of-the-art airborne radar system with an active phased-array antenna. This radar enables engagements beyond visual range, allowing the Yak-130M to fire air-to-air missiles at targets detected up to 70 kilometres away in the forward hemisphere. The ASA radar further improves the aircraft’s ability to employ guided and unguided munitions against ground and surface targets in all weather conditions. It also supports weather reconnaissance, terrain recognition, and automatic tracking of moving and stationary objects.

The aircraft’s capabilities are further strengthened by the Su-130K optical targeting pod. This system allows high-precision targeting using both pre-set coordinates and data relayed from ground stations, significantly enhancing the Yak-130M’s effectiveness in air-to-surface missions.