Russia to test 5th generation fighter in ’07

MOSCOW, JUNE 8: The commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, General Vladimir Mikhailov said on Wednesday that the development of the fifth generation fighter jet was going ahead in accordance with the plan and that it would be flight-tested in 2007.

General Mikhailov made the announcement in Kubinka (Moscow region), even as Russia and India are planning to sign an agreement on setting up a joint venture on the model of Indo-Russian BrahMos missile project, for design, development, manufacture and marketing.

Last month, during his visit to the Sukhoi Design Bureau in Moscow, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam proposed a joint venture on the fifth generation fighter. Currently, both countries have accelerated the finalising the draft agreement on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on defence, a source said.

Heh, last time they said the PAK FA would be out in 2006 didn’t they?