New stealth jet tipping strategic balance

New Russian stealth jet

A new fighter jet has completed a 45-minute test flight, giving Russia a boost in its effort to obtain a fifth-generation craft that can avoid radar detection with stealth technology and still perform at high levels.

The test of the Sukhoi-manufactured T-50 fighter plane just days ago raises new questions for Russia's neighbors who may be worried about strategic advantages.

The Economist magazine's former Moscow correspondent Edward Lucas said the balance of power now will depend on Russia's productivity.

"There's no doubt that the Russians have the technological know-how to build new state of the art planes," Lucas said, "They showed that by having the 45-minute test.

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"The key to whether the new plane will make a difference is if the Russians are able to build enough of them to make a difference," Lucas said.

Retired Brig. Gen. Kevin Ryan says Prime Minister Vladimir Putin "is extremely interested in redeveloping Russia's industrial capacity."

"Russia's major exports to other countries have always been military hardware," Ryan said. "With the Migs they showed they could build planes. Their interest in reasserting their capability is important here."

The plane has a maximum speed of 1,305 miles per hour and a maximum range of about 3,500 miles. It uses stealth technology to reduce its "signature."

The Jamestown Foundation's website reports the T-50 has "smart avionics, flies in all-weather conditions day and night, and is highly maneuverable even with heavy loads."

The plane is a joint venture with India, and defense analysts say it will be ready for mass production in India and Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia, by 2015.

Wilson Center for International Scholars India analyst Bumitra Chakma said the plane will make a difference to India.

"Russia has flight tested Suhkoi T-50, and India would be looking for joint production of this fifth generation fighter aircraft for its air force," Chakma said.

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"India may get them sometime around 2018 or 2020. If India adds these planes to its air force, it will significantly boost India's air capability. It will be interesting to see what Pakistan does to counter it," Chakma added.

"India is a far superior power than that of Pakistan – at least five times larger than its rival on all counts," Chakma said. "But at the same time it must be noted that nuclear weapons are the equalizer."

Gonul Tul, the Turkey analyst for the Middle East Institute, said Turkey may not benefit from the plane's production because the partnership is diplomatic and business.

"Turkish-Russian relations [are] primarily an economic relationship, and I do not see a strategic alliance between these two countries in the future," Tol said.

"Russia is Turkey's largest supplier of natural gas, supplying two-thirds of Turkey's total usage. There are many points of convergence between Turkey and Russia with regard to international affairs."

"Georgia is a mutual point of contention for Turkey and Russia. Neither country allowed the U.S. to use their territory as a base for operations against Iraq. Russia supports Turkish rapprochement with Armenia. It supports a diplomatic, soft-power approach to Iran's nuclear program, as does Turkey," Tol said.

Russia still has troops in Georgian territory, so the issue of Russia's military power is a regular feature of the Georgian Foreign Ministry website.

"Both Turkey and Russia view Ukraine as an unreliable trading partner," the website said. "Lacking major points of concern in bilateral relations, Turkey did not feel threatened by Russia's test flight of T-50. Russia is a power in decline, especially after the Georgia crisis and an increasingly isolated country, which is clear to Turkish policy-makers as well."

Turkey has a military relationship with the U.S.

"Turkey is part of the Joint Strike Fighter Program, and, therefore, it will buy American F-35s," Tol said. "So Turkey does not consider buying Russian T-50s. In fact, military relations between Turkey and Russia have been traditionally weak."

Stephen Blank, a professor at the Army War College, said the balance of power issue is biggest in the Baltic States.

"Regarding the Baltic States, the issue is air superiority through NATO. I don't believe Russia is capable of achieving air superiority with the NATO alliance, even with a stealth fighter," Blank said.