As part of its 10-year military and technological cooperation pact signed with India recently, Russia is wooing the Indian aerospace industry for jointly designing, developing and producing a stealth fighter aircraft for the global market.

The proposed fifth generation fighter, to be first inducted into the Russian air force by 2010, is not only set to match the capabilities of the F-35 joint strike fighter, being developed by the US-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, but is expected to cost less.

The Moscow-based Sukhoi Design Bureau, authorised by the Russian government to take up the stealth fighter project, will soon begin discussions with the Indian aerospace industry.

"The ball is now in the Indian court. We are keen that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and other Indian defence R&D organisations join the program," Sukhoi Aviation Corporation official Aleksey A Poveshchenko told rediff.com in Bangalore on Friday.

India has already demonstrated its technological prowess by indigenously developing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and by co-producing the BrahMos cruise missiles with the Russians in a cost-effective manner.

"In view of India's strengths and skills in designing and developing fighter aircraft, helicopters, missiles, avionics, radars and electronic warfare systems, we are upbeat that its association with the fifth generation fighter will vastly benefit its aerospace industry," Poveshchenko stated.

Poveshchenko said Russia intends to conduct the maiden test flight of the stealth fighter by 2006-07.

"We propose to deliver the first aircraft to the Russian air force by 2010. In case the Indian Air Force is not ready to induct the fighter into its fleet by then, it can join us in marketing it to other countries in view of its projected cost advantage over the F-35 joint strike fighter," Poveshchenko said.

India and Russia had signed a 10-year military and technical cooperation agreement during Russian President Vladmir Putin visit to New Delhi in early December, 2002.

The joint agreement envisages the delivery of armaments and military equipment to the Indian armed forces, transfer of licenses and rendering assistance in producing military products at Indian defence plants for the requirement of both the countries as well as the global market.

In a related development, the Sukhoi Design Bureau, which has been involved in manufacturing only military aircraft, has decided to foray into the civilian sector, specifically medium-to-long haul passenger aircraft and those for shorter routes.

The latter, to be called the Russian Research Jet (RRJ), will be a joint venture between Ilyushin, Snecma and Boeing to manufacture regional aircraft with a capacity of 55-95 passenger seats for feeder routes.