Article Posted on : - Aug 04, 2014

The PAK-FA fifth generation fighter. A Sukhoi photo

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi has said that it plans to sign another contract with India soon for the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) programme the two sides have jointly undertaken.

The new contract will be inked for the "experimental design works" of the new supersonic combat jet, Alexander Klementyev, deputy director general at the Sukhoi Company was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass news agency.

India is partnering with Russia for the joint development of the new-generation stealth fighter.

The two countries had inked an intergovernmental agreement in 2007 under which the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was identified as the nodal agency in the project.

In 2010, Sukhoi and HAL formally agreed to jointly develop the fighter aircraft and signed a general contract on the joint design and production, and then the first engineering development contract.

Works under this agreement were completed in 2013, the news report said.

"Since then, we have been working on the second contract for experimental design works," Klementyev said, adding that this was a unique project aiming at long-term cooperation.

"We have never had such a format of cooperation before. There used to be licensed production in China and in India, but now it will be joint designing and production of a new combat aircraft," the official said.

India plans to acquire over 100 FGFAs for its Air Force.