Uzbekistan is holding talks for purchase of Russian Yak-130 jet-trainer originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi, the Kommersant newspaper said.
The talks are now reportedly "in their initial stage."
Recently Russia delivered Yak-130 aircrafts to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Belarus, Egypt and Laos.
The Yakovlev Yak-130, dubbed “Mitten” by Western intelligence, is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light fighter. It has also been marketed as a potential light attack aircraft. Development of the plane began in 1991 and the maiden flight was conducted on 25 April 1996.
The Yak-130 has three hard-points under each wing. That means it can carry up to three tons of air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs, free-fall bombs, rockets, gun pods and external fuel tanks.
Another two stations at the wingtips can carry air-to-air missiles or decoy launchers to spoof enemy heat-seeking missiles. In addition, under its belly, the plane can carry a hard-hitting 23-millimeter cannon.
