Russia will work «in parallel» on the fifth-generation fighters for the air force of her own and that for the Indian air force, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti. The agency refers to deputy chairman of the Russian government Sergei Ivanov.

«We will not give up our own project. We will go forward in parallel», he was quoted as saying. Sergei Ivanov reminded that Russian state arms export vendor Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi are planning to sign a contract with the government of India on development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft which shall later enter mass production and go to the air forces of the two nations.

That said, Russia continues testing a prototype of the aircraft for the Russian air force which already performed 36 flights. The testing now focuses on main systems of the aircraft and engine parameters, Ivanov said. «So far so good. There are no serious complains (about the airplane’s performance in flight testing)», Ivanov said. He confirmed that a second prototype shall get airborne by the end of this year.