Article Posted on : - Dec 17, 2010

Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA during its maiden flight in January 2010.

NEW DELHI (BNS): India and Russia have agreed to design the 5th generation fighter aircraft T-50 at an estimated cost of $295 million.

According to a report by RIA Novosti, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman Ashok Nayak, during an interview with the Russian news agency, said that, "the cost of preliminary design is estimated at $295 million."

The Indo-Russian agreement for the design and construction of the new fifth-generation fighter aircraft will be signed during a visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to India on December 20-22. The contract could be signed could be signed by the representatives of India's HAL and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).

The aircraft jointly developed by India and Russia could be completed by 2015-2016. The costs will be shared equally between both the countries, the news report added.

The interiors of the new aircraft will have a two-seater cockpit and advanced avionics.

The aircraft will be based on Russia's T-50 prototype fifth-generation fighter. The aircraft has already been subjected to several test flights and should enter into service with the Russian Air Force in 2015.