Russia tests future India fighter

With the aircraft getting airborne,Russia is the second country in the world to produce a fifth generation fighter,90 per cent of which is made of composite fibre.

Sukhoi’s KNAAPO aircraft plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is reported to have built three prototypes of FGFA with the technical name T-50 under its PAK FA project to rival US Lockheed F-22 Raptor and its newer version F-35.

Under an agreement signed in 2007,India has also joined the FGFA project by taking a 50 per cent investment stake in the project. For the Indian Air Force,a lighter,two-seater version is to be developed to meet its specific requirements.

The Russian Air Force intends to begin the induction of FGFA from 2015,India is also expected to induct at least 250 combat jets,which would be manufactured by the Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. HAL has a 25 per cent share of design and development work in FGFA,with India contributing largely to composites,cockpit and avionics.

The Indian version will also have weapon of Indian origin including Astra,the beyond visual range missile being developed by the DRDO. At the initial stages,500 FGFA are to be developed with options kept open for both Russian and Indian Air Force.