South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Agency has shortlisted Sukhoi’s PAK-FA/T-50 stealth fighter for its FX-III fighter contract.

Flight Global has cited local reports as claiming that PAK-FA will be evaluated against the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The first PAK-FA prototype, also known as aircraft T-50-1, was unveiled 18 months ago and performed its first flight on 29 January 2010.

Seoul is also likely to launch an indigenous KF-X fighter development programme in collaboration with Indonesia.

A variant of the PAK-FA is also being considered by India through a fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme jointly pursued with Russia.