Article Posted on : - Dec 24, 2009

Sukhoi's PAK FA. A file photo.

MOSCOW (PTI): Russia will soon flight-test the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), which is developed along with India, a senior cabinet member said here Wednesday.

"In the end of December-beginning of January, we are not making any New Year presents, but flight tests will start shortly," Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said.

Under an agreement signed in October 2007, India has also joined Russia in the project based on Sukhoi's PAK FA project and the two nations are in negotiations to finalise the commercial contract for the deal.

At least three prototypes of FGFA have been made by the KNAAPO aircraft plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and several Indian teams have visited the facility in the country's Far East near the Chinese border, sources told PTI.

The FGFA is to compete with the US F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II and the Russian Air Force plans to induct the futuristic fighter from 2015.

According to the local media the FGFA is to be equipped with the 'artificial intellect', advanced avionics and stealth capability.With several mid-air refuellings it could cruise for hours at the supersonic speed.

India, which wants a two-seater, lighter version of FGFA, would take part in the development of trainer version from the very beginning.

According to United Aircraft Corporation CEO Alexei Fyodorov, all the technological, financial and intellectual resources would be concentrated on the development of heavier version of the fighter at this juncture.

He, however, said that many salient features of the fifth generation fighter aircraft, including phased-array radar capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets have already been incorporated in the lighter MiG-35 medium multirole combat aircraft offered to India.