Two pilots were rescued after they parachuted following the crash of a Russian-made Vietnamese Air Force Yak-130 training jet in central Binh Dinh Province on November 6.

The crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. during a training exercise, the Ministry of National Defense reported.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan and Colonel Nguyen Van Son, both aboard the Russian-made Yak-130, managed to parachute out of the aircraft after an emergency.

Phan Chi Hung, Chairman of Tay Son District People’s Committee, stated that the authorities first received a call from Lt. Col. Quan at around 4:30 p.m., reporting that both pilots were alive.  

Due to the terrain, however, Quan had to climb out of a deep ravine to get a phone signal before his battery depleted. Col. Son also managed to place a call around 6:45 p.m. to confirm his safety. 

Despite poor weather and weak signals in the remote, hilly region, rescue teams, including hundreds of soldiers, combed the area in Tay Phu Commune, Tay Son District, to locate the pilots. 

Lt. Col. Quan was found at approximately 8:20 p.m., while Col. Son was located around 10 p.m., roughly one kilometer away. Both were transported to a hospital for health checks and reported to be stable. 

The Yak-130, which can reach speeds of up to 1,060 kph and altitudes of 12,500 meters, is a relatively new addition to Vietnam’s air force, which is struggling to keep its aging Soviet-designed aircraft operational. 

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Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPA) operates a fleet that includes the Sukhoi Su-30, Su-27, and Su-22 aircraft. 

Vietnam purchased 12 Yak-130s in 2019 for $350 million, a package that included weapons, pilot training, and maintenance support. This crash has reduced the fleet to 11 operational jets, marking a setback for the Vietnamese Air Force. 

The incident follows a series of training-related accidents involving aging aircraft. Earlier this year, in January, a Soviet-era Su-22 fighter jet crashed in Quang Nam Province. A similar crash in January 2023 near Yen Bai airbase tragically resulted in the death of the pilot.

Similarly, in one of the country’s worst military accidents, 19 people were killed after a Russian-made Mi-171 helicopter crashed in the capital, Hanoi, during a training exercise in 2014.

The Yak-130 crash puts more pressure on the Vietnamese military to reassess its aircraft maintenance protocols and accelerate fleet modernization to ensure pilot safety and mission readiness. 

Yakovlev Yak-130 

The recent crash of the Yak-130 aircraft marks a significant blow for the Vietnamese Air Force, as the jet is more than just a training platform. 

Known by NATO as “Mitten,” the twin-engine Yak-130 offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional fighter jets. It provides an advanced training solution for pilots while retaining light combat capabilities. 

This dual functionality makes it a valuable asset for air forces with budget constraints that still need both training and light combat capacity.

First flown in 1996, the Yak-130 entered Russian service in 2009. 

It possesses the flight characteristics of modern fighters, featuring a digital cockpit and fly-by-wire controls. This design allows the Yak-130 to train pilots in the handling and maneuvering of high-performance jets, offering a realistic and practical training experience. 

Though subsonic, it can operate from various runways, making it highly versatile for different operational environments. As of today, the Yak-130 is the most advanced training jet in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces, replacing outdated Soviet-era trainers. 

This blend of training and combat functionality has proven to be attractive to international buyers. Beyond Russia, countries like Algeria, Vietnam, Iran, Belarus, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Laos have adopted the Yak-130 into their air forces, benefiting from its cost-effectiveness and advanced capabilities.

One of the key features of the Yak-130 is its ability to maintain stable, controlled flight at angles of attack up to 35 degrees, which places it on par with more advanced fighters such as the MiG-29, Su-30, and even the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. 

With an excellent thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.8, it can endure high g-forces and deliver impressive climb and take-off performance. 

Moreover, in 2024, Russia unveiled an upgraded version of the Yak-130, the Yak-130M, which boasts an array of enhancements. This modernized trainer is equipped with a Radar MMS-developed BRLS-130R active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and an expanded range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. 

When the upgraded version was unveiled, the manufacturer stated: “In essence, the aircraft will become a full-fledged light fighter while retaining training functions.”

This new configuration enhances the aircraft’s appeal on the international export market, potentially attracting new customers and encouraging existing users, like Vietnam, to expand their orders. 

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