The Iran Project - The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has received a shipment of advanced Russian-made Yakovlev Yak-130 pilot training aircraft, which possess the capabilities of 4th and 5th generation fighter jets.

Images shared on social media displayed one of these light attack training jets with the IRIAF logo on its fuselage.

The Yakovlev Yak-130, developed by Russian manufacturer Yakovlev and Italian firm Aermacchi, is a subsonic two-seat jet trainer and light combat aircraft.

It was introduced into service with the Russian Air Force in 2010 and is currently utilized by several other air forces globally. The Yak-130 features nine hardpoints for attaching various ordnance or fuel tanks, providing a combat load capacity of approximately 3,000 kilograms.

Its maximum airspeed is slightly below Mach 1, and it has a reported service ceiling of 12,500 meters. Earlier this year, Iran's Defense Minister inaugurated the production line for the domestically produced Yasin training jet, which can also be employed for close air support missions.

The new version of the Yasin training jet unveiled in March exhibited significant upgrades and tactical developments compared to the initial prototype unveiled in 2019.

The Iranian jet trainer includes a domestically manufactured ejection seat, avionics, engine, landing gear, and an airborne weather radar produced by domestic knowledge-based companies.

The Yasin weighs 5.5 tonnes and has a flight range of up to 1,200 kilometers. Its wing design allows it to land and take off at speeds of at least 200 kilometers per hour.