Russia has said it has no immediate plans to sign a joint venture agreement with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) as the work on the fifth
generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), jointly being developed by the two countries, could continue without it.
"We don't plan to sign a joint venture. We have agreed on joint work with our Indian colleagues," CEO of Sukhoi Aircraft Mikhail Pogasyan was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
India and Russia had agreed to jointly develop FGFA back in October 2007 and a JV agreement was expected to be inked between HAL and Sukhoi during Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin's India visit in March, which could not be signed due to red tape.
He said the joint work could be carried out under the current agreement.
HAL is said to be looking for 25 per cent stake in the JV, which will produce a lighter, twin-seater version of the futuristic fighter capable of taking on the US F-22 and F-35
fighters.
"We will do our part of the work, our Indian
counterparts theirs. At the initial stage it is not necessary to have a joint venture," Pogasyan said.
Russia has been developing its fifth-generation fighter since the 1990s. The current prototype, known as the T-50, designed by the Sukhoi design bureau and built at its plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is undergoing a series of trials.
Russian officials have already hailed the fighter as "a unique warplane" that combines the capabilities of an air superiority fighter and attack aircraft.
On the eve of his India visit Putin had said the FGFA would have to undergo at least 2000 test flights before entering into a stage of serial production.