India to blame for delay in Fifth Gen Fighter Aircraft: Russian minister
Russia, on Tuesday, blamed India for the delay in Indo-Russia Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). As Russia showcased the export version of its fifth-generation fighter aircraft, Su-57, Victor N Kladov, director, International Cooperation and Regional Policy of Russian State Corporation, Rostec, said Russia never cancelled any agreement with the Indian government and the project had been delayed by the Indian side, not Russia.
India and Russia agreed to collaborate in the development of a variant of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft or perspective multi-role fighter (PMF) in 2007. However, India withdrew from the agreement citing shortfall in parameters like engine and stealth capabilities. According to Kladov, the Su-57 is a “versatile, multi-role, advanced aircraft that can perform a wide range of tasks, air to air, air to surface and maritime. Hailing it as a product of a new level of defence technology, he said it did quite well in Syria and is perfectly combat-ready.
Also Read: RuPay launched in Bhutan, 9 MoUs exchanged between New Delhi, Thimphu
The India-Russia alliance runs way back into history to pre-cold war days and defence cooperation is a major element of the bilateral ties. The Programme for Military-Technical Cooperation signed by both countries is valid till 2020. The agreement underlines the interest of both governments to develop and strengthen military and technical cooperation in the sphere of research and development, production and after-sales support of armament systems as well as military equipment.
-PTC News
