Sukhoi / HAL FGFA The Sukhoi / HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft ( FGFA ) is a fifth - generation fighter being developed by India and Russia . It is a derivative project from the PAK FA ( T - 50 is the prototype ) being developed for the Indian Air Force . FGFA was the earlier designation for the Indian version , while the combined project is now called the Perspective Multi - Role Fighter ( PMF ) . The completed PMF will include a total of 43 improvements over the T - 50 , including stealth , supercruise , advanced sensors , networking and combat avionics . Two separate prototypes will be developed , one by Russia and a separate one by India . According to erstwhile HAL chairman A . K . Baweja ( speaking shortly after the India - Russia Inter - Governmental Committee meeting on 18 September 2008 ) , both the Russian and Indian versions of the aircraft will be single - seater . The first aircraft will begin testing in India in 2014 , with introduction into service expected by 2022 . The Editor in chief of Natsionalnaya Oborona , Dr Igor Korotchenko , said that exports of the jointly designed fighter should help Russia increase its share of arms exports to the world . Development . Following the success of the Brahmos project , Russia and India agreed in early 2007 to jointly study and develop a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft ( FGFA ) programme . On 27 October 2007 , Sukhoi ' s director , Mikhail Pogosyan stated , " We will share the funding , engineering and intellectual property in a 50 - 50 proportion " in an interview with " Asia Times " . On 11 September 2010 , it was reported that India and Russia had agreed on a preliminary design contract , subject to Cabinet approval . The joint development deal would have each country invest $ 6 billion and take 8 – 10 years to develop the FGFA fighter . In December 2010 , a memorandum of understanding for preliminary design of the Indo - Russian fighter was reportedly signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) , and Russian companies Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi . The preliminary design will cost $ 295 million and will be complete within 18 months . On 17 August 2011 , media reports stated that the new fighter will cost Russia and India $ 6 billion to develop , and India will pay about 35 % of the cost . The Indian version , according to the deal , will be different from the Russian version and specific to Indian requirements . While the Russian version will be a single - pilot fighter , the Indian variant will based on its operational doctrine which calls for greater radius of combat operations . The wings and control surfaces need to be reworked for the FGFA . Although , development work has yet to begin , the Russian side has expressed optimism that a test article will be ready for its maiden flight by 2009 , one year after PAK FA scheduled maiden flight and induction into service by 2015 . By February 2009 , as per Sukhoi General Director Mikhail Pogosyan , India will initially get the same PAK FA fighter of Russia and the only difference will be the software . In 2010 , Sukhoi director Mikhail Pogosyan projected a market for 1000 aircraft over the next four decades , 200 each for Russia and India and 600 for other countries . Russian Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko said that the aircraft are to be jointly developed and produced with India and both countries will " share benefits from selling the plane not only on their domestic markets , but also on the markets of third countries . " In 2011 , it was reported that IAF would induct 148 single seat as well as 66 dual seat variants of the FGFA . IAF plans to induct the first lot of aircraft by 2017 . By 2012 this had been changed to 214 single seat aircraft . In 2013 , it was revealed that the Russian and Indian PMFs would be using the same avionics . And Alexander Fomin said that " Both sides involved in this project are investing a lot into it , and on equal terms . " Russia later admitted to huge delays and cost overruns in the project . The first prototype delivery has been delayed by one or two years , the contract will not be finalized before 2015 , and the IAF has accused HAL of giving away up to half of India ' s share of the development work . Despite paying half the development cost , India will only receive a 15 % work share on the project . Design . Although there is no reliable information about the PAK FA and FGFA specifications yet , it is known from interviews with people in the Russian Air Force that it will be stealthy , have the ability to supercruise , be outfitted with the next generation of air - to - air , air - to - surface , and air - to - ship missile s , and incorporate an AESA radar . The FGFA will use on its first flights 2 Saturn 117S engines ( about 14 . 5 kiloton thrust each ) . The 117S is an advanced version of the AL - 31F , but built with the experience gained in the AL - 41F program . The AL - 41F powered the Mikoyan MFI fighter ( Mikoyan Project 1 . 44 ) . Later versions of the PAK FA will use a completely new engine ( 17 . 5 kiloton thrust each ) , developed by NPO Saturn or FGUP MMPP Salyut . Three Russian companies will compete to provide the engines with the final version to be delivered in 2015 - 2016 . HAL negotiated successfully to get a 25 per cent share of design and development work in the FGFA programme . HAL ’ s work share will include critical software including the mission computer , navigation systems , most of the cockpit displays , the counter measure dispensing ( CMD ) systems and modifying Sukhoi ’ s prototype into fighter as per the requirement of the Indian Air Force ( IAF ) . Russian expertise in titanium structures will be complemented by India ’ s experience in composites like in the fuselage . A total of 500 aircraft are planned with option for further aircraft . Russian Air Force will have 200 single seated and 50 twin - seated PAK FAs while Indian Air Force will get 166 single seated and 48 twin - seated FGFAs . At this stage , the Sukhoi holding is expected to carry out 80 % of the work involved . Under the project terms , single - seat fighters will be assembled in Russia , while Hindustan Aeronautics will assemble two - seaters . According to HAL chairman A . K . Baweja on 16 September 2008 , HAL will be contributing largely to composites , cockpits and avionics . HAL is working to enter into a joint development mechanism with Russia for the evolution of the FGFA engine as an upward derivative of the AL - 37 . Speaking to Flight magazine , United Aircraft chief Mikhail Pogosyan said India is giving engineering inputs covering latest airframe design , Hi - Tech software development and other systems . Difference between T - 50 and FGFA . The FGFA will be predominantly armed with weapons of Indian origin such as the Astra , a Beyond Visual Range missile ( BVR ) being developed by India . Although in keeping with the Russian BVR doctrine of using a variety of different missiles for versatility and unpredictability to countermeasures , the aircraft is expected to have compatibility with various missile types . The FGFA may include systems developed by third parties . It would also include advanced Indian composites in its structure . Majority of the software would be of Indian origin , along with Indian avionics . HAL will also make about 30 % Design changes . The completed joint Indian / Russian versions of the operational fighters will differ from the current flying prototypes through the addition of stealth , supercruise , sensors , networking , and combat avionics for a total of 43 improvements . Delays and cost increases . In May 2012 , five years before the original scheduled completion of the aircraft , the Indian Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) announced a two - year delay in the project ' s development . The Defense Minister A K Antony had said that the FGFA would join the Indian Air Force by 2017 . However , his deputy , M M Pallam Raju , told the Parliament that the fifth generation aircraft is scheduled to be certified by 2019 , following which the series production will start . Ashok Nayak , who spoke on the record as HAL ’ s chairman before retiring , explained that 40 - 45 improvements have been specified by the IAF , which were required before the PAK - FA could meet Indian needs . These changes were then formalized into an agreed list between Russia and India , the Tactical Technical Assignment . There is apprehension that the FGFA would significantly exceed its current $ 6 billion budget , because this figure reflects the expenditure on just the basic aircraft . Crucial avionics systems would cost extra . The Russian and Indian air forces plan to purchase about 250 FGFAs each , at an estimated cost of $ 100 million per fighter . That adds up to $ 25 billion from each nation , in addition to the development costs . By October 2012 , India had cut its total purchase size from 200 to 144 aircraft , the initial investment required from India had grown from $ 5 billion to $ 6 billion , and the estimated total program cost for India had grown to $ 30 billion . A preliminary design contract between India and Russia worth $ 295 million was signed in December 2010 for the design phase of the aircraft . Negotiations for research and development contracts are expected to be completed in 2014 . India only contributes 15 percent of the research and development work , but shares half the cost . Total program cost for India is expected to be $ 25 billion . Specifications ( PAK FA and FGFA - projected ) . Most of these figures are for the Sukhoi T - 50 prototype and not the finished HAL FGFA . External links . News reports and articles :