Russia’s Defense Ministry will start receiving T-50 PAK FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) fighter jets in 2018, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said during a visit to the Aircraft-Manufacturing Enterprise in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East.

While checking the fulfillment of the 2016 state defense order, Borisov was shown assembly workshops and the process of the production of the PAK FA fighter jet.

“A test batch of T-50 planes is currently being manufactured. We are planning to sign a contract for their serial production in 2017 and start receiving them in 2018,” Borisov said.

The deputy defense minister was also shown the process of the production of the Sukhoi Su-35S (NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) fighter jet.

“Last year, we signed a contract for the upgrade of four Su-27 Flanker planes that will be delivered to us in 2017,” Borisov said, adding that virtually all the planes were staying at the final assembly workshop.

“This allows us to be sure that the entire 2016 state defense order will be fulfilled before November 25,” the deputy defense minister said.

The fifth-generation PAK FA fighter jet is currently undergoing trials. The fighter jet performed the first flight in 2010.

It was reported earlier that the T-50 plane would complete its state trials in 2016 and its serial deliveries would start in 2017.