India’s fifth generation stealth fighter PAK-FA will be superior to China’s Chengdu J-20 low observable fighter.
According to a report in China Topix, India’s PAK-FA will be even superior to Russia's PAK FA T-50 from which it's derived because it has 43 improvements over the original version.
The Indian stealth fighter will also have the advantage of being able to fire the newest iteration of the fearsome BrahMos cruise missile, the BrahMos NG.
The report adds that since Russia's PAK FA T-50 is already superior to China's J-20, it means that the Indian stealth jet will also be superior to the J-20.
The report further says that Russia has produced only six PAK FA T-50s till date as it costs a hefty over $100 million apiece.
“That's far too expensive for a battered Russian economy still crippled by Western sanctions triggered by Russia's illegal annexation of the Crimea in 2014,” the report adds.
Under a co-development deal, India plans to develop one prototype while Russia will develop another.
The Indian version will be a two-seat fighter manned by a pilot and a Weapon Systems Operator. The Russian version will be a traditional single seat stealth fighter like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
India plans to make its indigenous stealth fighter jet operational before 2025.
Indian Air Force plans to induct as many as 127 fifth-generation stealth fighters.
India's Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project will be developed and produced by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its facility in Nashik at an estimated cost of $25 billion.
"The agreement has been completed on our end; we are ready to sign it. It is now down to the Indian side. There are some formalities to figure out, but I think it will be signed by the end of this year," Sergei Chemezov, CEO of Russian weapons maker Rostech Corporation, told China Topix.
“The project will produce a state of the art fighter jet, and it will be the result of the work on Russia's most modern technology done by both Russian and Indian engineers. As fifth generation, it means fifth generation speed, ballistics and military equipment, avionics and stealth capabilities among other qualities," he added.
