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.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.