http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071212/92020350.html

*Russia begins construction of fifth-generation fighter*

MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti) - *Russia*'s defense industry has started
the construction of a prototype of a fifth-generation combat aircraft, the
Air Force commander said Wednesday.

A *Russian-Indian* advanced multirole fighter is being developed by Sukhoi,
which is part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), and India's
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, under an intergovernmental agreement signed
in October.

"At present, we have prepared detailed work design documentation for the
fifth-generation aircraft," Colonel General Alexander Zelin said. "The
documentation has been passed to the manufacturer and it has begun the
construction of the prototype."

The new fighter aircraft, which will feature high maneuverability and
stealth to ensure air superiority and precision in destroying ground and sea
targets, will be built at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft-manufacturing
plant in Russia's Far East.

Flight tests of the fifth-generation fighter will begin as early as 2009 and
mass production of the aircraft may start by 2015, the Sukhoi aircraft maker
earlier said.


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