As the single-seat T-50 PAK-FA, a version meant for the Russian Air Force, conforms only partially to the operational doctrine of the IAF, India has opted for a customised two-seat version based on the same platform and designated the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft

Key issue of the Indo-Russian nuclear deal apart, Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Moscow in December 2009 was expected to generate discussions on the progress of ongoing defence deals and programmes. As it transpired, the two sides did dwell upon the progress of the Indo-Russian project for the new generation combat aircraft. Proof lay in the January 5 trip wherein, close on the heels of the Prime Minister’s sojourn, an Indian Defence Ministry delegation visited Sukhoi’s flagship aircraft facility in Siberia to observe the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) prototype that is expected to undertake its maiden flight within weeks from now.

To redux, in order to match the capabilities of the US F-22 Raptor that entered squadron service in the United States Air Force in December 2005 and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) which is still under development, Russia over eight years ago embarked on developing a new combat aircraft designated T-50 PAK-FA, or the ‘Prospective (Future) Aviation Komplex for Frontline Aviation’. India was offered a 50:50 partnership in the T-50 PAK-FA programme as early as in 2002. However, after considerable dithering, it was only in January 2007 that Delhi finally acquiesced to a joint venture involving research, development and production. A preliminary inter-government agreement for the joint development of the PAK-FA by Sukhoi, part of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was signed in October the same year.

While doubts continued to linger in the Indian camp, especially regarding the aircraft’s single-seat versus twin-seat configuration, Sukhoi continued to develop the single-seat version fighter for the Russian Air Force. The T-50 PAK-FA, when fully developed, is intended to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker fleets in the Russian Air Force. The aircraft will draw heavily from the technologies developed for the Su-47 Berkut and the MiG-1.44, the earlier competitors for the programme.

On account of its striking similarity with the US’ F-22 Raptor in respect of the airframe, the T-50 PAK-FA, in a lighter vein, is sometimes referred to by western analysts as the ‘Raptorski’. Even the Russian supersonic transport aircraft, which saw limited operational service, was dubbed the ‘Concordski’. Elsewhere, the highly successful Russian BVR missile R-77 earned the sobriquet ‘Amraamski’ from the West, based on the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-air Missile (AMRAAM).