India, Russia set to sign fifth-generation fighter jet deal in December: report
22 Nov 2010
Russia and India are most likely to sign a design contract for the fifth-generation fighter aircraft sometime in December, Russian deputy prime minister Sergei Ivanov said last week.
Early in 2010, Russia's Sukhoi Holding and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) entered into an agreement for joint development of a fifth-generation fighter aircarft, during the visit of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.
India finalised a draft contract for the fighter jets in early October.
"If all procedures are completed by the time of our president's visit in December, the contract will be ready for signing," Ivanov said.
The new aircraft, based on Russia's T-50 prototype fifth-generation fighter, has already made several test flights, the report said.
The first prototype has conducted a total of 40 flight trials so far since its maiden flight in late January, Ria Novosti quoted quoted Sukhoi Holding CEO Mikhail Pogosyan as saying.