MOSCOW. Nov 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The MIG aircraft corporation will continue flight tests of the experimental plane designed in the framework of the MFI program, a high-ranking official of the Russian aircraft industry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
The MFI program aims to design a multifunctional frontline fighter, the official said. It is referred to in non-classified media outlets as Design 1.42 and the MFI plane as Design 1.44.
The slow pace of the MFI tests is explained by high expenses on replacing old avionics with equipment containing new elements, the official noted. That is why the plane has made only two test flights so far. The third flight was scheduled for the summer this year, but the tests were postponed without announcing the reasons in the media.
According to the official, Design 1.42 will be used for experiments aimed at acquiring the research and technical backlog in the interests of designing Russia's fifth generation frontline fighter.
The official stressed that the MIG company had designed the combat plane on the FMI program using technical requirements of the Russian Air Force.