By Franz-Stefan Gady
Moscow’s answer to the American F-22 and F-35 aircraft will soon be inducted into the Russian Air Force.
Yesterday, the head of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) stated during a press conference at the Paris Air Show that the Russian Air Force will receive its first batch of PAK FA T-50 fifth-generation fighter jets by late 2016 or early 2017, Defense News reports.
According to UAC CEO Yuri Slyusar, four prototypes, along with two test beds of the fighter have already been delivered by Sukhoi, with three more prototypes expected to be delivered by the end of this year.
“We can say that we are in the schedule and these three additional prototypes will allow us to greatly expand the testing program and do it faster,” Slyuar said during the press conference.
“What we’re speaking about in the schedule is to deliver the first batch at the end of 2016, beginning of 2017 to the customer, the ministry of defense, so the aircraft demonstrate all necessary and design characteristics.”
The PAK FA T-50 prototype (the name will in all likelihood change for the production aircraft) is a multi-role, single seat, twin-engine air superiority/deep air support fighter with stealth capabilities, and is expected to have a service life in the Russian Air Force of up to 35 years.
Read the full story at The Diplomat