Engine airworthiness??? Isn’t it already tested, as stated below:

Airworthiness can be only tested when the aircraft is powered from kaveri engine only recent test was done keeping the engine in the payload section below picture of kaveri placed on Tu-16 will give you an idea how it was done

http://www.lca-tejas.org/images/lca_tu16_1.jpg

What about the Morale of Pilots who test a unknown engine with a airframe not yet cleared IOC?

thats why there are test pilots to fly new aircrafts with new systems ,Test pilots are more capable of sensing trouble

DRDO’s UAV test range in Chitradurga by 2011

Unmaned Air Vehicles (UAV’s) soaring over Chitradurga skies will soon be a familiar sight, as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will establish a world class aero test range facility at Kudapura Kaval, near Chitradurga city, in three years.

Speaking to reporters at the ‘Aerosem 2008’ on Friday, Chief Controller (Research and Development), Dr Prahlada, said that the test range facility at Kudapura Kaval to be set up at a cost of Rs 1000 crore will be used to test UAV’s, parachutes and bombs.

“The Karnataka government has agreed in-principle to allot 4,200 acres of land and the Ministry of Defence will purchase the land at a cost of Rs 12 crore,” he said.On the indigenous UAV’s Nishant and Lakshya developed by the DRDO, he said that a roadmap will be prepared to meet the requirements of the armed forces.

Besides, he said that the State government had evinced interest in the Nishant for possible use against insurgency.

Prahlada said that the State Home Minister VS Acharya who inaugurated ‘Aerosem 2008’ had enquired about the capabilities of Nishant and if it could be used in insurgency operations.

Kaveri engine for LCA in 2009 The much-delayed indigenous Kaveri engine will be fitted to the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) as the engine has successfully completed all air-worthy tests, said T Mohana Rao, Director, Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).

The GTRE is manufacturing the Kaveri engine and the programme had begun way back in 1998.“The latest test that was conducted in Russia in September has yielded positive results and we are hopeful to fit the engine to the LCA by the end of 2009,” he said.

http://www.idrw.org/2008/11/01/drdovs_uav_test_range_in_chitradurga_by_2011.html

I have read mig-25R’s were used for roles such as giving wider pictures in enviromental problems such as floods, forrest fires and more

IAF MIG-25 were used by national scientist to do research on weather and solar eclipses

2015 is too early to test even any MCA prototype unless work and design has been finished and approved as per ASR of IAF ,which seems quite unlikely to me

and about the SFW in indian aircraft it only matter of minor intergration

Russia to start delivering MiG fighters to India in 2009

this news may interest some people here

Venezuela interested in Russian Su-35 fighter

BY : Itar-Tass

Russia and Venezuela have signed 4.4 billion dollars of contracts in the past there years, and Venezuela has displayed an interest in the Su-35 fighter whose batch production is scheduled for 2010, director general of the Rostekhnologii corporation Sergei Chemezov said in an interview with Itar-Tass. He summed up the results of the session of a working group in the sphere of military technical cooperation, which took place within the framework of the working visit to this South America republic by a delegation led by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin.

The officials discussed supplies of Su-30 multipurpose fighters, Mi-17 transport helicopters, and AK-103 and AK-104 Kalashnikov assault rifles. A contract has been signed to build a plant for their licensed production and dedicated ammunition.

“Talks are underway over supplies of air defense systems to Venezuela, and modern armored vehicles, including BMP-3. In 2009, Russia will complete trials of its Su-35 fighter, and in 2010, it will begin to batch-produce them.” Venezuela displayed an interest in this aircraft, according to Chemezov.

http://www.idrw.org/2008/09/18/venezuela_interested_in_russian_su35_fighter.html

it looks more like Tiger Attack choper ,i think Army should pickup some and use it for Tank bursting role