New Russian 5th Gen Light Fighter Jet Prototype May Be Developed by 2025

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday that he expects a prototype of a fifth-generation lightweight fighter jet to be developed by 2025.

ZHUKOVSKY (Sputnik) — The development of the jet is part of the Russian armament procurement program.

"I hope that this aircraft will be already flying within the framework of the armament procurement program that is being adopted and being discussed now," Rogozin told reporters on the sidelines of the MAKS-2017 air show.

"The future armament program envisions the creation of such an aircraft, the beginning of its testing and flight operations… until 2025, " Rogozin added.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the plans on the delivery of modern weapons and equipment to the Russian army are being steadily implemented.

Russia is in the process of implementing a large-scale rearmament program. It was announced in 2010, with a goal of modernizing 70 percent of the country's military hardware by 2020. The cost of the modernization program is estimated at about 20 trillion rubles (over $300 billion).

MAKS-2017, one of the world's largest aviation shows, kicked off in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow earlier in the day. It will conclude on Sunday.