Stealth fighter jets

Russia will make more than 1,000 stealth fighter jets in four decades, including at least 200 to Indian traditional weapons buyer, said lead aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi told Reuters on Saturday.

Sukhoi have tested the fifth generation fighter aircraft flying long was suspended in late January, and Moscow said the aircraft would be able to compete with rival F-22 Raptor, the U.S. made more than a decade ago.

Sukhoi said last week that they expect the jet fighter, code-named T-50, will be ready for use in 2015.

"If you talk about the war planes of this type, there are definite market for the plane if we produced more than 1,000 jets," said Sukhoi director Mikhail Pogosyan told reporters on the sidelines of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to India.

"We have every reason to believe that there will be no harsh competition in world markets," he said.

He stated that Russia would produce more than 1,000 aircraft in 40 years and after Russian flight tests have a lot of work to promptly produce the plane.

Some analysts argue the Russian plan to create joint ventures with India in order to produce stealth fighter jets it might be viewed with worry by neighboring India, Pakistan, and regional rival China.


Pogosyan express agreement of the jet production with India still worked and did not say when the agreement will be signed.

"I believe that more than 200 aircraft will be sent to India. I think the Ministry of Defence (Russia) will buy no less than that amount," he said. saying some 600 of the planes will be sold to other places.

Some observers have expressed some countries, including Libya and Vietnam, have expressed interest in fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

"Apart from America, the only other fifth-generation project is owned by Russia, while Europe has released a plan like that. Maybe China will try and improve the product like that, but I think they face a huge amount of work to make their products competitive, "Pogosyan said. (*)