Similar propaganda piece was run today over at militarywatchmagazine.com. The difference in the wording indicates a more aggressive delivery schedule to front line unit. To be honest though, how many times have we heard this? When it first flew in 2010, an IOC of 2013 was cited. Then 2014, 2015. Then the news there would be no mass production, only a dozen ordered. Then news that it was really 2 airframes to be delivered over the next 2-3 years while the engines are refined. Then we hear Vlad negotiated the purchase price downward, so 76 examples could be ordered. Now we hear it's still 76 for the RuAF, but those are to all be delivered by 2028.
What gives?
Several possibilities..
1.) Chinese, UAE, Turkey etc foreign orders are secured, along with the $ to ramp up production, OR
2.) They got intelligence as to our PCA being further along than they thought, OR
3.) The Russian Air Force figured out they were wrong when stating no mass production b/c their current aircraft were "good enough" to take on upgraded F-15's, 16's 18's, Typhoon, Rafale etc OR
4.) Some combination of the above 3?
My guess would be that they're talking big, in order to get a foreign customer to commit the necessary $. From there they have something to work with. Without it, they're really in the same spot they've been in for the last decade - the project is incomplete, and in need of funding (from somewhere) to complete it.
We shall see..