India’s Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft makes public debut

The T-50 PAK FA Sukhoi-designed fifth generation fighter aircraft made its first public appearance at  the prestigious MAKS air show in Moscow. The acrobatics, performed by two prototypes, was watched with avid attention by a huge crowd, including Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, and senior IAF officers and engineers of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

India is a partner in the programme, which is slated to match, and in many areas outclass, the capabilities of the American fifth generation F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Indians are developing a two-seater version of the aircraft while the Russians are developing the single-seat version. The Indians have dubbed their version as the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).

At approximately $100 million apiece, the T-50 will be about the half the price of the much-touted F-22 Raptor.

The T-50 prototypes carried out a 15-minute demonstration flight, performing manoeuvres and allowing aviation experts from across the world to get their first glimpse of a non-American, fifth generation fighter aircraft.

The fighter did not perform to its full potential as the current prototypes are not meant to exceed 5G stress limits.