Russia tests 2nd prototype of fifth-generation fighter

MOSCOW. March 3. KAZINFORM A second prototype of the Russian fifth-generation T-50 fighter successfully conducted its maiden flight on Thursday, the Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer said. Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

The T-50 fighter is being developed by the Sukhoi design bureau and built at a plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in Russia's Far East. The first prototype made its maiden flight in January 2010 and has so far conducted over 40 tests.

"The second prototype of the fifth-generation fighter conducted today [Thursday] its first flight. The aircraft spent 44 minutes in the air...It was a successful flight which met all set parameters," Sukhoi said in a statement.

Russia has been developing its own fifth-generation fighter since the 1990s. It is designed to compete with the U.S. F-22 Raptor, so far the world's only fifth-generation fighter, and the F-35 Lightning II.

Although T-50 specifications remain classified, fragmentary data indicates that the design incorporates the latest developments in a military fighter, including advanced stealth capability, supersonic cruising speed, and highly integrated control systems. Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version