News of the planned accord follows talks between Russia’s Sukhoi and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in early 2010 to jointly develop a jet dubbed PAK FA, RIA Novosti reported on 27 October.
Russia and India agreed to develop a single-seat and a two-seat version of the aircraft by 2016, which will probably be based on the T-50 prototype fifth-generation fighter expected to be in service with the Russian air force in 2015, the report added.
In October India’s Defence Minister A K Antony confirmed that a deal to jointly design, develop and produce up to 300 FGFA was imminent. In a statement by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 7 October, Antony said the FGFA would be jointly developed during the next decade.