Russia and India are highly likely to sign a fifth-generation fighter design contract in December, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Thursday.
Russia's Sukhoi holding and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) agreed in early 2010 to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter jet. India confirmed that it had finalized a draft contract at a meeting with Russia in early October.
"If all procedures are completed by the time of our president's visit [to India] in December, the contract will be ready for signing," Ivanov said.
The new aircraft will be based on Russia's T-50 prototype fifth-generation fighter, which has already made several test flights, and is expected to enter service with the Russian Air Force in 2015.
NEW DELHI, November 18 (RIA Novosti)
