Visitors of the Aero India 2013 had a glimpse of a five-foot model of the fifth-generation multi-role fighter (FGFA) made by Sukhoi Design Bureau specialists. The model was exhibited at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) stand.

The agreement on the joint development and production of the fifth generation fighter aircraft was signed on October 18, 2007 in Moscow at the 7th session of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation.This is the largest joint project of the Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation.

At present development of conceptual and technical project of the aircraft is almost completed. The contract for that project was signed in December 2010 by the Rosoboronexport, HAL and Sukhoi Company. A contract for research and development is due to be signed.

In the course of the first stage of the joint project the Russian side has trained Indian specialists and provided them with the original data and software to create a single working environment. The Indian working group of aircraft engineers has been working in Russia since January 2012. A group of Russian specialists currently works in India. Both parties exchange the necessary information.

The FGFA will have some differences from the Russian prototype due to specific requirements of the Indian Air Force. Sukhoi Company is also involved in other Russian-Indian programmes, i.e. modernisation of the Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters and adaptation of the Russian-Indian air-to-ground BrahMos missile to the Su-30MKI.