MINSK (Sputnik) – Belarus plans to purchase eight more Yakovlev (Mitten) Yak-130 jet trainers from Russia, in addition to the four planes that Russian aircraft manufacturer Irkut Corporation agreed to deliver on Wednesday, the country’s military said.
"In the near future, the purchase of eight more such planes is planned. As a result, a full squadron of Yak-130 will be created and the training of flight crews will be arranged," Commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence Maj. Gen. Oleg Dvigalev said, as quoted by the Belarusian Military Newspaper on Friday.
A contract on the delivery of four Russian Yakovlev Yak-130 jet trainers to Belarus was signed on Wednesday at the MAKS-2015 International Aviation and Space Salon.
Oleg Demchenko, president of Russian aircraft manufacturer Irkut Corporation, told reporters at the signing ceremony that Russia was hoping to sign a contract for larger aircraft with Belarus in the future.
On Tuesday, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Belarusian Defense Ministry signed a contract on the delivery of five missile launchers for the Tor-M2K air defense system.
Rosoboronexport's General Director Anatoly Isaykin told reporters at the MAKS-2015 air show on Tuesday that the delivery of the launchers is scheduled for 2016.
