Russia to Start 5th Gen Fighter Tests in 2010

Russia will start testing its fifth-generation fighter jet in 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday. “The trials will begin in 2010,” Ivanov said. Earlier reports said tests would start before the end of this year.

Deputy Defence Minister Vladimir Popovkin said the fighter, which has been under development since the 1990s, will enter the Air Force’s service in 2015.

One of Russia’s known fifth-generation projects is Sukhoi’s PAK FA and the current prototype is called T-50. It is designed to compete with the US F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightening II.

In August 2009, Russian Air Force Chief Alexander Zelin said that there were problems with the engines and a research was underway.

The PAK FA is believed to possess advanced avionics, stealth capability, a ferry range of 4,000 to 5,500 km, and endurance of 3.3 hrs. It is armed with the next-generation air-to-air, air-to-surface and air-to-ship missiles, and has two 30-mm cannons.