Foreign customers eye Russia’s cutting-edge Checkmate fighter — deputy PM

Foreign customers display their interest in Russia’s cutting-edge Checkmate single-engine fighter jet, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on Monday.

"Yes, customers display interest in the fighter. I can say that over these two years, we have made certain adjustments to the project to maximally adapt it to the needs of customers interested in the single-engine aircraft," the deputy PM told reporters, according to TASS.

In particular, Russian engineers have made adjustments to the aircraft’s layout, control and armament systems, he specified.

"This relates to the design, control and aircraft armament systems. That is why, a lot of work has been carried out in this regard using the initial Checkmate version presented here [in the United Arab Emirates] as the basis," Manturov explained.

The Checkmate light tactical fighter developed by the Sukhoi Aircraft Company (part of the United Aircraft Corporation) was unveiled at the MAKS 2021 international airshow that ran in the suburban town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow. The new combat plane's foreign presentation took place at the Dubai Airshow 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. The new combat plane created by Russia’s state tech giant Rostec at its own initiative is a derivative of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter.

Commenting on the possibility of foreign partners joining the project, the deputy prime minister said that "such ideas and proposals" were on the agenda but in the near term there were plans to produce the Checkmate fighter in Russia.

"But, as I have said, this process will take into account the upgrades that were prompted to maximally adapt the aircraft to the customers’ needs," the deputy prime minister said.

Russia to produce first Checkmate fighter prototype by late 2025

The first Checkmate fighter prototype may be produced by the end of 2025, Manturov said.

"I expect this [the creation of the first Checkmate fighter prototype] will take place before the end of 2025," he said.

Russia’s new Checkmate fighter

The new single-engine fighter is based on stealth technology and is outfitted with an inboard compartment for airborne air-to-air and air-to-surface armaments. The fighter will carry a payload of over 7 tons and will be capable of striking up to six targets at a time.

The Checkmate fighter will be capable of flying at Mach 1.8 (1.8 times the speed of sound) and will have an operating range of 3,000 km. The aircraft will be outfitted with a highly efficient powerplant.

Russia’s latest, cutting-edge fighter is expected to compete with America’s F-35A Lightning II and Sweden’s JAS-39 Gripen. The Checkmate incorporates the latest systems, including its open architecture configuration to meet the customer’s requirements and unique artificial intelligence technologies.