After developing the supersonic cruise missile Brahmos, India and Russia have come together once again to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft (FGFA). At present the only operational fifth-generation fighter in the world is the F-22 Raptor which comes at a cost of $258 million per piece which makes it the most expensive combat aircraft in history. The Indian Air Force wants the FGFA which is being called T-50 by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, to exceed the capabilities of the American F/A-22 ‘Raptor’ and somewhat match the F-35 ‘Lightning-II’ fighter. The distinguishing features of the FGFA will be stealth technology, composite materials, thrust-vectoring, advanced radars and sensors, and the ability to supercruise (achieve supersonic speeds without the use of the afterburner).

The FGFA’s firepower will include a very high degree of accuracy through PGMs (precision-guided munitions). Its recce and surveillance systems should be multi-spectral — optical, infra-red, laser and radar sensors. The fighter will also need in-flight refuelling capability, through both tankers and in the buddy (from another fighter) mode. Russian officials say the development cost of the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA project will be around $10 billion and a fully-operational Indo-Russian FGFA will take into the air in around a decade.

Via - DDI News