The Russian-Indian second prototype T-50 fighter aircraft will take to the skies in early 2011, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) President Alexei Fyodorov said on Monday.

"We have put the deadline forward to the start of 2011," he said.

"It is important for us that the second prototype is a development of the first, not simply a repeat," he added.

Work is underway on the third prototype, incorporating even more advanced systems, he said.

Russia's Sukhoi holding and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) agreed in early 2010 to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter jet based on the T-50 design.

They later put the estimated project design cost at $295 million.

The contract is to be signed by HAL and UAC officials during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to India on December 20-22.

The two sides agreed to develop both a single-seat and a two-seat version of the aircraft by 2016, initially focusing on the single-seat version. The costs will be shared equally between Russia and India.

The first Russian prototype T-50 made its maiden flight in January 2010.

The new fighter aircraft is expected to enter service with the Indian Air Force by 2020.

NEW DELHI, December 20 (RIA Novosti)