India and Russia to seal stealth fighter deal

After repeated delays, India and Russia are due to finalise an agreement to jointly develop a new stealth jet under the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project, based on Russia’s T-50 prototype

SUKHOI / HAL FGFA Known as PMF (Perspective Multi-Role Fighter) in India

Thrust-vectoring nozzles

Powerplant: Two Russian AL-41F1 turbofans with supercruise ability. More powerful engines under development

Stealth features Shaped airframe contours and engine intakes, radar absorbing materials

Crew: One or two (two-seat Indian Air Force version being developed)

AESA* radar

Armament: 30mm cannon, eight internal weapon points in ventral and wing root bays, eight external points

FIFTH-GENERATION STEALTH FIGHTERS

FGFA (T-50) India, Russia Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor U.S. Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II U.S. Chengdu J-20 “Black Eagle” China
Length: 19.8m 18.9m 15.6m 20.3m
Empty weight: 18,000kg 19,700kg 14,650kg 19,400kg
Internal fuel: 10,300kg 8,200kg 6,125kg 11,340kg
Max. speed: Mach 2 Mach 2 Mach 1.6 Mach 1.7
Introduction: 2018 2005 2015 2018

Sources: Aviation Week, Lockheed Martin
*Active electronically scanned array