At Least Three Delivered Late Last Year

Vietnam has received the first of at least 12 Yak-130 ‘Mitten’ advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft ordered from Russia in 2019.

Russian state-owned news agency TASS quoted an unnamed source as saying on 29 January that a first batch of three aircraft had arrived in the Southeast Asian country in late 2021. However, other media outlets have reported that up to six have been handed over to the Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF).

The TASS report follows the publication of images on social media in November showing a Yak-130 in VPAF livery, suggesting the first aircraft were delivered around that time.

In 2019 Vietnam signed a contract valued at $350 million for a dozen aircraft, built by the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, part of Russia’s Irkut Corporation. Also included in the price are training, weapons, and after-sales support.

The VPAF is acquiring Yak-130s to begin replacing its fleet of about 28 Czech-built L-39 C trainers, the first of which entered service in 1980. Vietnam has also ordered 12 L-39NG jet trainers from Aero Vodochody, deliveries of which are scheduled for 2023-2024.

In Asia, the Yak-130 is also known to be in service with the air forces of Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Laos.

Gabriel Dominguez for MON