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The “Cold War” is back – Russia develops a sixth generation fighter aircraft. While air forces, including the Israeli, are acquiring the U.S made F-35 fifth generation fighter aircraft, Russia is heavily investing in a more advanced aircraft.

According to Defense World.net, Russia has been testing stand-alone elements of its sixth-generation fighter on fifth generation PAK-FA fighter jets.

Electronic warfare systems for the sixth-generation warplane are currently under work at the Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), the major Russian center for Instrument Engineering development and production, including electronics, avionics etc.

“Standalone solutions that will be applied in the sixth-generation fighter are now being tested on the fifth-generation jet as well as on the ground-based equipment. Separate elements of the flight and navigation system have already been installed on PAK FA”, said KRET.

According to the concern, the sixth-generation fighters will be fitted with a unified electronic warfare system, which will serve as radar, an electronic warfare system, a data transmission system and as communications equipment. Additionally, it will function as a navigation system and as an IFF transponder.

“The PAK FA radar station should operate both as a locator and reconnaissance system, and the electronic warfare system for its part should engage in radio detection and location. That is, integration and redistribution of functions on the PAK FA is already happening,” the KRET representative said. He added that the use of integrated avionics is tested on many aircraft, e.g the US fifth-generation fighter, the F-35.

Back in early March reports stated that work on the sixth-generation fighter aircraft had begun, with the fighter’s manned and unmanned versions under development. The fighter prototype is expected to perform its maiden flight prior to 2025.

It remains to see the future ramifications of this new Russian investment.