Check out our official website: http://us.tomonews.net/<br />Check out our Android app: http://goo.gl/PtT6VD<br />Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Russia will deliver an initial batch of Yak-130 fighter jets to its ally Syria by the end of this year, Russian media reported on Monday.<br /><br />Syria reportedly made a $100 million down payment to Russia for the first six jets in 2011. It plans to receive a total of 36 by 2016.<br /><br />Manufactured by Russian aerospace firm Yakovlev and exported by Rosoboronexport, the Yak-130 is a combat trainer that can also perform light attack and reconnaissance missions.<br /><br />Designed to be easy to fly and maintain, the plane can take off and land from grass strips and unpaved runways.<br /><br />The Yak-130 went into service in Russia in 2009. Development of the aircraft started in 1991 and included a joint venture between Yakolev and Italian aerospace company Alenia Aermacchi that led to the production of the M-346 Master, which is in service in Italy, Singapore and Israel.<br /><br />It can carry a 3,000-kilogram payload with armaments on nine hardpoints, two wingtip, six underwing and one underfuselage.<br /><br />A typical payload includes four R-73E air-to-air missiles, four KAB-500Kr guided bombs, two external fuel tanks and an SNPU-130 pod with a GSh-23L gun. The Yak-130 can also carry two S-8, S-13 or S-25 rocket launchers, or four aerial bombs on its underwing pylons, and two ECM pods with decoy launchers on its wingtips.<br /><br />In addition to Russia, the Yak-130 is also used by Algeria. Syria, Bangladesh and Belarus have ordered the aircraft. Countries considering purchasing the Yak-130 include Malaysia and Uruguay.<br /><br />Russia says the sale of the jets to Syria is not in violation of international law because they are defensive weapons.<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated l
