Flight tests of the Russian fifth generation combat airplane will take place in 2007, Russian Federation air force commander-in-chief General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov reported today in Moscow. The CinC emphasized that the air force will continue work with this future tactical aviation complex, and "the times of its series production and entry into service will depend only on financing."

"We have a completely clear-cut program of progressive air force development, including of aviation equipment. Now the realization of all the programs we have will depend only on the financing. "The first generation airplane will provide fighter and strike functions," Mikhaylov said. According to him, an electronic version of the airplane already created has been successful.

"A very large amount of developmental work on the airplane's aerodynamics has been accomplished, and all of its weapons will be inside the fuselage," the CinC said. According to him, the defense ministry "has allocated definite funds for the fifth generation airplane, but fewer than we would like,"