Indo-Russian stealth fighter project hits turbulence

Russian Sukhoi T-50 stealth fighter faced a major technical problem when it had to abort its second test flight at an airshow here, causing a temporary setback to the fifth generation combat jet project.

Russian Sukhoi T-50 stealth fighter faced a major technical problem when it had to abort its second test flight at an airshow here, causing a temporary setback to the fifth generation combat jet project.

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"The T-50 fighter aborted the take-off for technical reasons due to engine overflow and its pilot Sergei Bogdan decided to apply emergency brakes with the tail parachute," Interfax reported quoting defence industry sources.

The T-50 made its maiden flight in January 2010 and is expected to enter service by 2015. Russia had lifted the curtain on the secret T-50 project on August 17 in the presence of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The project is being developed at a fraction of the cost of American F-22 and F-35 fighters.

An aviation expert quoted by the agency said an emergency landing was normal for the period of test flights, especially in the conditions of high humidity

Under a 2007 agreement, India and Russia are to jointly develop the futuristic stealth fighter capable of challenging the US Raptor F-22.