MOSCOW, June 20 (RIA Novosti) - Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday that a fifth-generation Russian fighter would make its maiden flight in 2009.
"Expect the fighter in the skies with a new engine in 2009," he said.
The commander of the country's air force said June 15 that Russia would launch its first fifth-generation aircraft as early as 2007, although it would be still equipped with fourth-generation engines.
"Several experimental models will take to the skies as early as 2007, but for now they will be equipped with intermediary engines," Vladimir Mikhailov told journalists. "In the future they will get fifth-generation engines, development of which is ongoing."
