While India is scouting to buy a fourth generation fighter, the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with advanced stealth technologies, being jointly developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Sukhoi Design Bureau, will have its maiden flight by end of this year, according to reports in RIA Novosti quoting Russian Dy PM Sergei Ivanov. "We expect the aircraft to take to the skies no later than the end of this year," Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti on January 27. Ivanov, former Defence Minister, made this statement in the South Volga region of Astrakhan, where he is on a visit to supervise the construction of facilities for the trials of the next generation fighter. Earlier the maiden flight of the new stealth capable multi-role fighter capable of destroying air, land and sea targets while remaining invisible to enemy radar was expected in end-2010. It is not clear whether the schedule has been advanced or it is as per the original timeframe. Under the bilateral agreement signed in October 2007, FGFA is being developed by Sukhoi, which is now part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), along with India's HAL. India and Russia will simultaneously develop a two-seater version for India and a single seat version for the Russian Air Force. Russia had started developing the FGFA, in response the US F-35 fighter, about four years ago. India joined the project in 2007 when Sergei Ivanov, who was then the Deputy Premier and Defence Minister and Indian Defence minister, AK Anthony held discussions on Indian involvement in the development of the fighter . It is not yet clear which partner will share what levels of work. In all probability it will be HAL which will provide the avionics and some other sub-assemblies going by the experience in adapting the SU-30 MKI for India which is an India-specific aircraft developed on the basic Su-30 platform but with considerable electronics and other inputs from India. The FGFA is also called the Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA -- Advanced Frontline Aviation Aircraft System. It is designed to compete with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Aircraft and the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor. Critics call it the "Raptorsky," after the F-22 Raptor. The T-50 PAK FA goals are excellent maneuverability, supersonic cruising speed, long range and high protective properties.
