Press Trust of India,
New Delhi: The Indo-Russian futuristic 5th Generation Fighter aircraft could begin test flights before 2015, according to high-level Russian aviation officials here.
The new fighter is being designed by the Sukhoi Flight Bureau. “The trials could begin any time after 2014,” the officials said. A Russian expert team has arrived here for talks with the Indian Air Force and Defence Ministry officials on finalising certain technical aspects of the fighter.
They said the new fighter would have a service life of over 40 years.
The Russian delegation, led by Mikhail Pogosyan, Director General of Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company, began talks with an Indian delegation led by KP Singh, secretary defence production. Top IAF design experts also took part in the meeting.
Experts from both sides will work out the funding of the project, which according to aviation experts, could run up to 10 billion US dollars. They will also take up pattern of co-development, production of the fighters and schedule of work.
The two countries had signed an inter-governmental agreement in Moscow on October 18 during the visit of Defence Minister AK Antony on joint development and production of a new generation fighter.
