Russia to test fly fifth generation fighter aircraft tomorrow

Russia's futuristic 5th generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), PAKFA T-50, which has substantial Indian investment stake, will hold its maiden test flight tomorrow, reports said.

"Initially the flight was scheduled for today, but has been rescheduled for tomorrow due to bad weather," Interfax reported quoting an official of the KNAAPO aircraft plant situated in Komsomolsk-on-Amur city company.

The KNAAPO plant is part of the 'Sukhoi" corporation, which won the tender five years ago for the development of FGFA by beating its rival 'MiG'.

India has a 25% stake in the PAKFA project for the development of futuristic combat jet. Under the PAKFA project three T-50 prototypes have been built for trials before their serial production.

The Russian Air Force is expected to begin induction of FGFA from 2015, to compete with the US Lockheed F-22 Raptor and the multi-nation F-35 Lightning II.

India is expected to acquire at least 250 fighters to be built jointly by Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The saturn engine, which will power the FGFA has already been tested on board a Su-27M flying laboratory, ITAR-TASS reported.

However, the prototypes have been equipped with the thrust vector engines used in the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI.