Uzbekistan began negotiations on the purchase of Russian combat-training aircraft Yak-130. This was reported Thursday by the newspaper Kommersant.

“Uzbekistan shows interest in the Yak-130, but negotiations are at an early stage,” the newspaper notes.

In recent years, the Yak-130 was purchased by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Belarus and Laos (in December 2018, four such vehicles were delivered there).

The Yak-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light fighter originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi. It has also been marketed as a potential light attack aircraft.

As an advanced training aircraft, the Yak-130 is able to replicate the characteristics of several 4+ generation fighters as well as the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57. It can also perform light-attack and reconnaissance duties, carrying a combat load of 3,000 kg.