The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded JSC Sukhoi Company contract for the supply of 12 Su-57 fifth-generation jet fighters, according to a 30 June statement by the lenta.ru news agency.

“The first contract for 12 aircraft has been agreed on, and the deliveries under this contract will begin shortly,” Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko told reporters at a briefing in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

According to the source, the first new fifth-generation jet fighters will be ready in 2019 to delivery for Russian Aerospace Forces.

The aircraft will be manufactured at Komsomolsk-na-Amur plant (KNAAPO) in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

The Su-57 made its maiden flight eight years ago. CEO of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar said the first batch of Su-57s could come into service in 2019.

Development of this aircraft commenced in 2001. A prototype of Su-57 (T-50) was revealed and made its maiden flight in 2010. In 2014 a pre-production prototype was delivered to the Russian Air Force for trials and evaluation.