August 18, 2010

Russia's 5G Fighters To Be Better, Cheaper Than Foreign Analogs

Russia's 5G Fighters To Be Better, Cheaper Than Foreign Analogs

Turayevo, Russia (RIA Novosti) Aug 10, 2010 -

Russia's fifth-generation fighter must be better and cheaper than foreign 5G fighters, Vice-Premier Sergei Ivanov has said.


"We are obliged to make the [fifth generation] airplane cheaper than analogous complexes abroad," Ivanov said during a meeting at the Central Institute of Aviation Motor Construction.


Russia's only known fifth-generation project is Sukhoi's PAK FA and the current prototype is the T-50. It is designed to compete with the U.S. F-22 Raptor, so far the world's only fifth-generation fighter, and the F-35 Lightning II.


In mid-June, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin observed the 16th test flight of a prototype model of the new fighter.


Russia has been developing the model since the 1990s. The country's top military officials have said the stealth fighter jet, with a range of up to 5,500 km, should enter service with the Air Force in 2015.


The PAK FA is to be armed with next-generation air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and has two 30-mm cannons.





Source: RIA Novosti