Russia is showing off its next generation stealth fighter for the first time at a highly publicized air show that opened Tuesday near Moscow.

Russian air force commander-in-chief Alexander Zelin said the Sukhoi T-50 is expected to enter service in the next three or four years. The fighter has been touted as a rival to Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor.

International aircraft makers have sent their latest product to the international aviation show at Zhukovsky air base.

One of the stars at the event is the world's largest passenger jetliner, the Airbus 380.

The Russian news agency Itar-Tass says an experimental model of the heavy transport helicopter Mil Mi-26T2 will make its debut at the show, which also is expected to feature flights of several World War II-era planes.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a statement Tuesday saying the show will present the best products of domestic and foreign aviation design and hopefully will spur international cooperation in the field.