Dubai, November 13 – Russia has started preparations for the production of the first samples of the Checkmate lightweight fifth-generation fighter aircraft, according to a press release from the state corporation “Rostec” ahead of the Dubai Airshow-2023 exhibition. The international premiere of Checkmate took place at the Dubai Airshow-2021. “Based on the work carried out, changes have been made to the project, which have adjusted the timeline for the first flight. Today, the design documentation has been handed over to the manufacturing plant, and preparations for the production of the first samples have begun,” the corporation stated. After the presentation of Checkmate, feedback was collected from potential customers, and the project’s cost and individual technical solutions were adjusted. “This significantly increased the competitiveness and commercial attractiveness of the domestic single-engine aircraft, as well as reduced the technical risks in its creation,” emphasized Rostec. Checkmate is the first single-engine fifth-generation aircraft in Russia, developed by the Sukhoi company (part of the United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec). The fighter was presented in July 2021 at the MAKS-2021 aerospace salon. The international premiere took place in the same year at the Dubai Airshow exhibition. The key features of the aircraft include low visibility, low cost per flight hour, open architecture, and high cost-effectiveness. The payload capacity exceeds seven tons, and the fighter can simultaneously engage up to six targets. The speed of the single-engine aircraft will reach 1.8 Mach, and the combat radius will be three thousand kilometers. The initial batch of Checkmate fighters is planned to be produced in 2026.
