Indian Air Force Wants To Test-Fly Russia's 5th Generation PAK-FA Fighter

India has asked Russia to permit test-pilots of Indian Air force to fly its fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA).

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow in December, flight-testing will help to take forward the collaboration between both the nations on the FGFA, Times of India reported Saturday.

“All options, ranging from an off-the-shelf purchase of 60-65 jets to joint production, are on the table," a top defence ministry official was quoted as saying.

The FGFA combines stealth, super-cruise capability, super-maneuverability, data fusion and multi-sensor integration on a single fighter.

It was in 2007 that the Indo-Russian inter-governmental agreement for the FGFA was inked. It was followed by the $295 million preliminary design contract in December 2010.

India also slashed its requirement from the original 166 single-seat and 48 twin-seat fighters to just 127 singe-seat jets. The overall FGFA project cost for making all the 127 fighters in India was pegged at around $25 billion.

India has been holding back on signing the detailed R & D contract despite pressure from Russia. The thinking now is to buy the aircraft off the shelf from Russia to cut delays in joint development.