NEW INDIAN STELTH FIGHTER

MUMBAI - India has launched a project to indigenously develop its own new generation fighter to improve aerial guarding capability, local media reported on Sunday.

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has embarked on a project to indigenously develop new generation fighter, which would have similar operational functions of the world's advanced fifth-generation fighters, the Indian newspaper the Tribune reported, citing Subramanayam, Director of the DRDO's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

The world's fifth generation fighters were led by the US most sophisticated stealth fighter F-22 in late 2005. Those fighters claimed the capabilities of "first-look, first-shot, first-kill" by being designed from the start to operate in a network-centric combat environment, and to feature low signatures employing advanced materials and shaping techniques.

Subramanyam said the new generation fighter would be a twin- engine aircraft, just like existing MiG-29 fighter, and its total weight is about 20 tons, different from the joint Indo-Russian fifth generation fighter with a weight of 30 tons.

The DRDO is expected to finish the definition of the new generation fighter's technical and operational requirements and lay out the broad concepts for the new fighter's development within about one and half a year.

The official said the first indigenously developed jet fighter Tejas will receive operational clearance in the next two months and is scheduled to enter the service with the Indian Air Force next year.

INDIAN 5TH GENERATION FIGHTER LATEST PHOTOS

Fifth generation fighter tests in Russia to commence in 2009

Moscow, April 20: Russia expects to begin test flights of the fifth generation fighter plane in 2009, while talks are underway for Indian involvement in the project codenamed "prospective frontline aircraft".

"The first flight has been tentatively set for 2009," head of the United Aircraft Corporation Alexei Fyodorov told Russian media.

During President Vladimir Putin's India visit in January last, New Delhi and Moscow had reached a political decision to jointly develop the fifth generation fighter on the basis of a project prepared by Sukhoi Design Bureau.

The two sides are currently negotiating on the financial aspects of the agreement as Moscow has proposed to invest part of the rupee debt New Delhi owes to Russia.

The fifth generation fighter will be equipped with new engines capable of imparting thrust for accelerating its speed in seconds from zero to Mach-2 (twice the speed of sound), radio Mayak reported.

According to it, smart ammunition and beyond visual range missiles capable of "hitting a nail" are being developed for arming the new fighter, which would also have stealth features based on Russian "cold plasma" technology capable of absorbing radar signals.