After Ukraine began using its Soviet-era Yak-52 training aircraft to shoot down Russian drones, Russia also has announced repurposing the same planes in its inventory with specific upgrades.
The modernized Yak-52 training aircraft will be modified to combat drones, Dmitry Motin, head of this modernization project at the Aviasroitel Design Bureau, told RIA Novosti.
“Today, one of the priority projects for our bureau is the modernization of the Yak-52 training aircraft into the Yak-52B2 “UAV countermeasure aircraft” modification. At present, we are expecting to receive an airworthiness certificate from the Federal Air Transport Agency ,” he said.
A Yak-52 in flight on Aug. 19, 2007 – Yankees Foundation/Wikimedia Commons
According to him, the concept of modernizing the aircraft implies the installation of new instrumentation, including a multifunctional display in the rear cockpit.
“The navigation and flight equipment, the electronic warfare system for suppressing communication channels, and the radar will be modernized,” the agency’s source said.
OKB Aviastroitel is working on creating an updated version of the Yak-52, which will allow one of the most popular sports aircraft to be used not only for training flights, but also to combat attack and reconnaissance drones.
Top Photo: RIA Novosti / Aurora
Sources: RIA Novosti; The Aviationist