The Yak-130 trainer aircraft is intended for basic and advanced flight training of military pilots. The trainer is also used for transition training of pilots to adapt them to combat aircraft. It is part of a training complex which consists of ground training aids, display classrooms, dedicated and flight simulators, the Yak-54M (Yak-152) initial flight training aircraft and the training objective assessment and control system. All components of the complex are united by a common open-architecture software which allows for expanding the complex's capabilities.

The Yak-130 makes it possible to train pi Lots for any types of the fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. A high-lift wing with a wingroot extension and an all-moving tailplane allow the aircraft to fly at large angles of attack (up to 40°) without stalling. Its digital fly-by-wire four-time redundant flight control system allows it to change (reprogram) the characteristics of aircraft stability and controllability, depending on the type of a simulated aircraft, and simultaneously fulfills the functions of an active flight safety assurance system. Combat training is carried out via weapon employment simulation and simulated target control from the instructor's workstation, as well as by performing live launches of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, bomb drop, gun firing and using the onboard self-defense complex facilities. The Yak-130 has nine weapon-store hard-points. Its automated diagnostics and test system ensures a high maintainability of the trainer. The aircraft can be operated from soil airfields. The potential invested in the design configuration of the Yak-130 makes it possible on its basis to develop a deck-based trainer, a combat trainer, and a light combat aircraft.