Syria To Get Russian Yak-130 Trainers Starting 2014

Russia will delivery an initial batch of the Yakovlev Yak-130 jet trainers to Syria until the end of 2014, with further plans to fully complete the contract for 36 aircraft in 2016, according to the Kommersant newspaper.

Damascus will receive nine aircraft until the end of this year, and in the next two years - 12 and 15 respectively, according to the report. 

According to a report published last year, Syria had transferred some $100 million of advance payment to Russia for the first six Yak-130 jets under a contract signed in December 2011.

Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011 and has relied on Russian arms to counter internal conflict.