Russian PAK-FA Fifth Gen Fighter Jet Completes Flight Test

Russian fifth-generation PAK-FA  (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) fighter jet has completed flight tests.

"Several planes are now primarily testing airborne avionics. The tests proving the aircraft’s flight characteristics have practically been completed," Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov was quoted as saying in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV Channel on Monday by Tass.

Borisov earlier told the media the Russian military would purchase only a squadron of PAK FA fighter jets, compensating this with a larger order for Sukhoi Su-35 fighters.

Russia is expected to sign contract with India to deliver 154 Sukhoi T-50 (PAK FA) fighter jets during the upcoming annual Indo-Russian summit.

The agreement, which will be under the joint FGFA initiative, will include work share and a commitment to the number of single-seat and double-seat aircraft

The PAK FA is intended to be the successor to the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force and serve as the basis for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft being co-developed by Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force. PAK FA fighter first flew in 2010.

"The sides positively assessed the progress of work on the design of a promising multifunctional fighter aircraft (T-50 or PAK-FA stealth fighter) and a multi-purpose cargo aircraft, licensed production of Su-30MKI fighters and T-90S tanks (and) the implementation of the program for the creation and production of BrahMos missile," the Russian MoD said in a press statement last month.