A new fighter aircraft seen as Russia's response to US advances in military aviation made a successful first test flight today, plane maker Sukhoi has said.
The fighter, Russia's first all-new warplane since the collapse of the Soviet Union, flew for about 45 minutes, Sukhoi spokeswoman Olga Kayukova said on Rossiya 24 television. The plane took off from Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia's far east.
"The plane performed very well," said Ms Kayukova. "All our expectations for this first flight were met. The premiere was a success."
Analysts have said it would probably be five to seven years before Russia's military got to fly the new fighter.
The fighter, which Rossiya 24 said had been tentatively dubbed the T-50 by its makers, is crucial to demonstrating that Russia can hold its own and even challenge US technology.
It is seen as Moscow's answer to the US-built F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, which first flew in 1997.
Reuters
