India has committed an initial $6 billion for jointly developing a fifth-generation stealth combat jet with Russia, a project that will eventually cost the country $30 billion and envisages the manufacture here of 144 aircraft. The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview on the occasion of the IAF's 80th Anniversary Oct 8 that all these aircraft would be single seaters, the same which the Russian Air Force will have, but some components like onboard computers and systems would be different as in the case of the Sukhoi SU-30MKIs. Now designated PMF, or Perspective Multirole Fighter, by Russia, the Indian aircraft would be made in India, Browne said, adding that discussions with the Russian government are already on. Source: Naval Open Source INTelligence
