Initial testing of the India-Russia fifth-generation stealth fighter jet venture PAK-FA begins

Russia has begun initial testing its futuristic, fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, named the PAK-FA, in which India is a partner.

Sukhoi PAK-FA test flight successful

Photo: rendering of Sukhoi PAK FA

With the PAK-FA – which is called the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) in India – Russia expects to match, or even outsmart, the F-22 Raptor, the latest fighter jet of the United States. See our recent article on the Sukhoi PAK FA fighter

The F-22 Raptor of the US is the only fifth-generation fighter plane in the world.

Russia’s PAK-FA is expected to compete with the F-22 Raptor and also with the F-35 Lightning II, a related, fifth-generation, ground-attack version of the F-22, which is currently being developed.

The supersonic PAK-FA, known also as the T-50, has a range of 5,500 kilometres. It has been scheduled to enter the service of Russia’s Air Force in 2015.

Prior to the first flight that has been planned for sometime in January 2010, the first runway-tests of the PAK-FA were conducted in December 2009, Russia’s non-governmental new agency Interfax reported.

The first prototype of Russia’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the Interfax report said, rolled out on the runway of Sukhoi’s aircraft plant, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Organisation (KnAAPO), located in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia’s far-east, near the Chinese border.

For the initial testing, the test-pilot switched on the engines of the PAK-FA, made two runs on the airstrip, and applied the breaks many times.

Earlier, Sergei Ivanov, Russia’s Vice-Premier, had announced that the tests on the fifth-generation fighter plane will start in December 2009-January 2010 and that Russia’s Air Force plans to induct the fighter jet beginning from 2015.

According to an agreement signed in October 2007, India joined Russia in Sukhoi’s PAK FA programme. India and Russia are currently holding talks in order to finalise a commercial contract for the aircraft deal.

While India is developing its own two-seater version of the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft, Russia’s version is single-seater jet.

Interfax reported that the KnAAPO aircraft plant has made at least 3 prototypes of the PAK FA.

Many teams from Indian team have already visited the KnAAPO plant.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), based in Bangalore, India, and the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), of Russia, had assigned a contract to build 250 Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft for the India Air Force and an equal number of jets for the Russian Air Force. The option for further planes has been kept open.

According to reports, the cost of developing the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft, which is being shared between India and Russia, is $8 billion-$10 billion (Rs 37,000 crore-Rs 45,000 crore). Over and above this, each fighter jet is to cost Rs 400 crore-Rs 500 crore.