Moscow: Within a span of days, Russia's
fifth generation fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi
corporation under its highly secret PAK FA project on Friday made
its second successful flight in the country's far east.
The flight carried out from the KNAAPO plant in
Komsomolsk-on-Amur lasted 57-minutes, ten minutes longer than
its maiden flight on January 29 and the fighter was painted in
the combat colours of the Russian air force, according to
Interfax.
This time also it was piloted by test-pilot Sergei
Bogdan, who expressed satisfaction at the performance of the
aircraft to be inducted by the Russian Air Force in 2015.
Indian Air Force, which would acquire 50 single-seater
fighters of the Russian version, would induct another 200
two-seater fighters beginning from 2016, according to reports.
Under the 2007 intergovernmental agreement Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has been identified as the nodal agency
in the project and a commercial deal on setting a JV is
expected to be finalised during Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin's visit in mid-March.
Yesterday, Chief of the Russian General Staff, Army
General Nikolai Makarov said the new fighter, in which India
is a partner, would be superior to the US F-22 Raptor- the
only flying fifth generation fighter.
"It would have an artificial intellect, almost at the
level of human intellect," General Makarov was quoted as
saying by agencies.
After few more test flights, T-50 would be moved to
Flight Trail Institute at Zhukovski near Moscow for further
trails and certification.
Weapons firing trails would be carried out at Akhtuba
range in south Russian region of Astrakhan, before it is
transferred the centre of the air force in Lipetsk in 2013 for
evolving the combat manuals.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 12, 2010, 17:38