Russian Stealth Fighter Aborts Takeoff At Air Show

Russian new T-50 stealth fighter

Russia's first stealth fighter jet had to abort a takeoff on the last day of Moscow's International Aviation and Space Show on August 21 because of what officials said was a malfunction in the right engine.

The T-50 did not leave the runway and was slowed by a brake parachute.

The T-50, which made its maiden flight in January 2010, had been kept out of the public eye before its debut at the air show on August 17 during a visit by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The fighter is intended to match the U.S. F-22 Raptor, which entered service in 2005.

The T-50 still lacks new engines and state-of-the art equipment, and the most optimistic forecasts predict that it will only begin to be serially produced in 2015.

compiled from agency reports