High-powered Russian defence delegation to firm up cooperation

India and Russia will discuss the development schedule of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) when Russian deputy prime minister, SS Sobyanin, visits India sometime in the middle of the month.

Sukhoi design bureau's PAK FA (Perspektivniy Aviatsionniy Komplex - Frontovoy Aviatsii, or, the Future Front line Aircraft System), project, to give it its Russian designation, is touted as a competitor for the American F-22 Raptor stealth, advanced fighter aircraft programme. Informally, it is also referred to as the 'Raptorski.'

Rich in radar evasion characteristics, the prototype made its maiden flight late last month.

India has a joint development programme for the project where though it will foot development costs on an equal-share basis it will be responsible for the development of 25-30 per cent of the systems, particularly the twin-seat variant asked for by the IAF.

The Russians are developing the single-seat variant.

The FGFA aircraft will act as considerable force-multipliers in the region and will serve to boost the capabilities of a force that is gradually inducting 250-plus Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, currently rated as possibly the best conventional 4th generation fighter in operation with any of the world's air forces.