IAF Chief to review 5th Generation Fighter Jet progress in Moscow

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne will embark on three day visit to Russia next week where he will review strategic joint ventures with age old patron in defence field including Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA).

The visit, beginning August 8, will be first for Air Chief Marshal Browne after assuming the charge.

According to sources, the IAF Chief will be visiting Sukhoi Design Bureau and some other Russian Air Force establishments. India and Russia have been working on crucial FGFA and MTA under a fifty-fifty partnership.

The co-developed advanced stealth aircraft FGFA is expected to compete with the US F-22 Raptor, presently the world's only fifth generation fighter, and the under-development F-35 Lightning-II, at an estimated cost of $35 billion.

The Preliminary Design contract for the project was signed in 2010 and the two sides are in “hectic consultations” to freeze the design of this highly advance fighter.

As per US classifications, aircrafts in service from 1980 to 2010, or based on the designs of the 70s are categorised as 4th generation aircrafts. However, 5th generation aircrafts are more advanced with better stealth capabilities and higher speed potential in comparison to the former. The FGFA is being developed under Sukhoi's PAK FA project. The Indian aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is its Indian partner.

The 30 tonne fighter jet will have very advanced avionics, stealth to increase survivability and enhanced lethality. The aircraft is expected to enter service in the 13th plan (2017-2022) period around 2019. So far, the Indian side has put aside $250 million for the Preliminary Design Contract phase. India will be responsible for developing software for on-board computer systems, aircraft self-defence systems, and a host of other important components.

While India is developing its own two seater version of the FGFA, Russia's version is single seater jet. The IAF alone plans to acquire 214 of the combat jets and the option to acquire more has been kept open. The IAF is looking for 166 single seater and 48 twin-seater versions of the aircraft. IAF Chief in the review meeting would apprise Russians about his requirements in the designs of FGFA, sources said.

The HAL has also signed a tripartite general contract with Russia for the MTA project. HAL and UAC-TA have proposed to design, develop and produce the multi-role transport aircraft in the 15-20 tonne class, jointly by the Indian and Russian agencies to meet the requirements of 100 aircraft for the Russian Air Force, 45 aircraft for the IAF and 60 for other countries. The total requirement for the present is 205.

Besides FGFA and MTA, the IAF Chief will also be raising the issue of malfunctioning ‘fly-by-wire’ system of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs resulting in crashes.