While Russia's military elite have already seen the prototype - or perhaps prototypes - of the air force's nextgeneration heavy fighter, the aircraft will likely only make its public debut after first flight, if tradition is followed.
Senior Russian government and military leaders continue to insist first flight will be this year. Up to three prototypes are thought to be in various stages of final assembly at the Sukhoi manufacturing site in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
The Russian air force's fighter fleet replacement strategy in the near to medium term is built around two Sukhoi programs: the Su-27SM2 (Su-35) development of the Flanker and the T-50 design to meet its fifth-generation fighter project, known as PAK FA.
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