A top-ranking Russian military officials says Russia is poised to roll out its new fighter, one that will compete with USAF’s F-22A Raptor. According to Russian news service Pravda, Vladimir Mikhailov, commander in chief of the Russian Air Force, recently said the demonstration prototype I-21 would be flying at year’s end. Sukhoi is building the fifth-generation I-21, one of two new fighters on the Russian scope. Its designers believe its avionics and engines are better than those in US aircraft, reports Pravda.
In a nighttime ceremony contrived to continue concealment of many of its features, the new B-21 bomber rolled out of Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif. plant Dec. 2. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the aircraft's advanced technology represents "deterrence, the American way."