Russia launches new ‘Checkmate’ fighter jet

Moscow (CNN) – Russian President Vladimir Putin was able to see a preview of the new fifth-generation single-engine light fighter jet at an airshow outside Moscow on Tuesday.

Russian aircraft manufacturers have unveiled a prototype of the pirated fighter named “Checkmate” for the 68-year-old leader at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2021 in Zhukovsky, ahead of its official release by Rostek, the state-owned military agency responsible for the export of Russian technology.

Rostech boss Sergei Semasov and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) CEO Yuri Sliuser presented Putin with a fighter jet at the Sukhoi Institutional Exhibition Hall.

According to the explanation given by the state UAC that the fighter prototype is unique and has not been developed before in Russia.

The U.S. Air Force said in a statement that the aircraft was “integrating innovative solutions and technologies” and had “low visibility and high aircraft performance”.

The company’s director, Sliuser, spoke on Russian state television about the aircraft’s characteristics, describing the aircraft as “one-of-a-kind” and that they had a “radius of combat with an area of ​​1,500 km, the largest propulsion-weight ratio”, compressed departure and landing, and a combat payload of more than seven tons. Complete registration for flights. “

Its first flight is expected in 2023, Russian state media reported, citing a presentation to the Russian government.

The UAC also expects deliveries of the new single-engine fighters to begin in 2026.

A few hours ago, Putin praised Russia’s aviation in a speech at the start of the air show.

“What we see today in Zhukovsky clearly shows that Russian aviation has great potential for development, and our aviation industry is constantly developing new competitive aircraft,” he said.

Dmitry Stepanovich, a researcher at the International Security Center at the Primakov Institute for World Economy and International Relations (IMEMA RAS) in Moscow; Said to be in technical cooperation.

“It’s a revolutionary offering in the market,” Stefanovich said. “Russia has been testing single-engine fighters for a long time. For a long time, there were no new Russian light fighter jets on the market. Not even the fifth generation.”

Stefanovic said countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Vietnam and India could be the first to sign agreements with Russia for the new aircraft.

On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had tested its Zircon hypersonic missile from Admiral Grigorovich’s warship in the White Sea, hitting a land target in the Barents Sea more than 200 miles away.

“It’s not a coincidence,” Stepanovich said. “Russia has shown in practice that it is a very active force in the development and production of advanced missile systems.”