FUTURE OF THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE

As Russia continues to upgrade its already potent armed forces, two military aircraft of cutting-edge technology, the PAK FA (T-50) and Su-35S, are expected to become the mainstay of the country’s Aerospace Force in the future. During a visit to the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft manufacturing plant, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov said that the military is expected to receive two more working prototypes of the PAK FA – the last prototypes to be made before the warplane goes into production. The work on PAK FA has already reached its final stages. The Sukhoi T-50 (PAK FA) is a fifth-generation fighter and the first Russian aircraft to employ stealth technology. It is a single-seat, twin-engine multi-role jet fighter designed for air superiority and attack roles. Sukhoi Su-35S, that is a fourth-plus-generation multirole jet fighter, is essentially an upgraded version of the Su-27 super manoeuvrable fighter. India has a joint development plan with Russia for Sukhoi T-50 to suit Indian conditions.