The chief designer of the LTS talks about the features of the new Checkmate aircraft
On the first day of the MAKS-2021 air Show, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the Rostec State Corporation) held a presentation of a new light tactical aircraft (LTS). The single-engine fighter was named Checkmate (translated from English - "Checkmate"). According to the information announced, the newest combat aircraft includes all the most advanced developments, including an open architecture for building in the interests of the customer and unique artificial intelligence technologies.
Mikhail Strelets, First Deputy Managing Director - Director of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, chief designer of the LTS, in an exclusive interview with TASS on the sidelines of the Zhukovsky Air Show, spoke about the advantages of the latest Russian fighter over foreign analogues, the role of artificial intelligence in the operation of the aircraft, as well as when Checkmate will make its first flight.
- Mikhail Yuryevich, what are the main features of the Checkmate LTS?
- The Checkmate LTS is a new light tactical fighter developed by us on an initiative basis. The main features of the project are a unique combination of flight performance, combat capabilities, low visibility and the cost of a flight hour. The aircraft is a universal adaptive platform with an open architecture. It can be manufactured in several configuration options in accordance with the customer's wishes.
Checkmate Light Tactical Single-engine Fighter
Image source: © Roman Azanov/TASS
The new aircraft is equipped with an ergonomic cabin equipped with advanced radio-electronic equipment with elements of artificial intelligence. This allows you to significantly reduce the load on the pilot and focus on destroying ground and air targets.
In addition, the Checkmate LTS has the lowest cost on the market relative to aircraft of similar functionality. According to its technical characteristics, it should surpass all existing analogues.
- Is the new aircraft an upgrade or a project from scratch?
- The Checkmate LTS is designed using the scientific and technical groundwork obtained during the creation of the fifth-generation Su-57 combat vehicle, and with the extensive use of supercomputer technologies. In fact, it is the first Russian aircraft that was completely calculated by digital methods. This significantly reduced the development period and technical risks during testing.
At the same time, proven technical solutions are embedded in the car and a high potential for modernization is provided. Together with our existing aircraft, this will allow us to quickly create a flexible combat aviation system of the future and respond to emerging threats in the most rational, adaptive way.
- When will the first flight of the new aircraft take place?
- The aviation complex has been designed, its characteristics have been confirmed by a full range of virtual tests, and static strength tests will be conducted soon. The first flight of the Checkmate LTS is scheduled for 2023.
- Tell us about the after-sales service of this machine.
- Reliability, convenience and ease of maintenance are one of the most important qualities of modern aviation complexes. The aircraft is designed in such a way as to simplify personnel access to the systems as much as possible without special airfield equipment. The fighter is equipped with a built-in auxiliary power plant.
Also, thanks to the artificial intelligence of the cockpit, preflight control no longer requires the presence of a person. These solutions will allow you to prepare a combat vehicle for launch in a short time, even in the absence of special means, which, in turn, will affect the combat survivability of the entire fleet.
The Checkmate LTS is a really easy-to-maintain aircraft. A new automated logistics support system Matreshka has been created for the fighter. Using the latest methods of predictive analytics, the system will allow you to track the technical condition of the aircraft in real time throughout the entire life cycle. This will make it possible to plan preventive and repair work, significantly reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of after-sales service.
- Tell us more about the pilot's intellectual support system.
- We follow modern trends, and already today the cockpit has intellectual support for the crew, which forms tips for the pilot for the most effective actions in air combat, including in difficult situations.
Checkmate Light Tactical Single-engine Fighter
Image source: © Roman Azanov/TASS
In addition, the cockpit of the fighter is equipped with unique panoramic touch screens that reflect the state of all systems, as well as provide comprehensive information about the route, targets and threats.
- What is the unique complex of on-board equipment (BW) of the aircraft?
- The fifth-generation KBO installed on the Checkmate LTS is a separate pride of the developers, it is a modern platform with a foundation for the future. It includes wide-range all-angle review systems that will instantly warn the pilot about threats.
Checkmate Light Tactical Single-engine Fighter
Image source: © Roman Azanov/TASS
The complex allows you to exchange information with other combat units. KBO has high noise immunity characteristics. The aircraft is equipped with an integrated complex of electronic countermeasures and defense, which will not allow the enemy to detect itself and use weapons.
-What loads can the Checkmate LTS carry?
- The Checkmate LTS has the most spacious internal weapons compartment among the aircraft of its class, which allows you to use a wide range of aviation weapons of destruction (ASP) in an inconspicuous fighter configuration. In addition to the classic missiles and bombs, it is possible to install additional fuel tanks, suspended cannon containers, as well as other cargo for various purposes in the compartments. Thanks to the spacious compartments and the presence of external suspension points, the aircraft has a record load capacity for this class - 7400 kg.
- What ensures the low cost of a flight hour in comparison with other aircraft?
- The low cost of a flight hour is made possible thanks to perfect aerodynamics, modern engine and on-board equipment, as well as minimizing the cost of servicing the aircraft. In comparison with its main competitor - the F-35 - the Checkmate LTS will receive seven times less cost per flight hour.
- How many targets can Checkmate simultaneously accompany and attack LTS?
- The aircraft's onboard equipment with an integrated AFAR radar (active phased array antenna) is capable of attacking six and tracking up to 30 aerial targets. If we talk about land and sea, then the LTS can accompany two targets simultaneously.
- Is it possible to install imported equipment on board the Checkmate LTS?
- The aircraft was created with an open architecture, so if the customer wishes, it is possible to install modern on-board equipment of foreign production on the Checkmate LTS. The adaptability of the aviation platform allows you to configure the fighter in such a way that it fully meets the tasks facing the customer.
Checkmate Light Tactical Single-engine Fighter
Image source: © Sergey Karpukhin/TASS
- In what variants can an aircraft be created?
- In accordance with the customer's wishes, the new fighter can be in a two-seat, optionally manned and unmanned version. LTS Checkmate was founded as a platform with a modular modification potential. This is realized by replacing the head part of the fuselage and adapting the systems at the factory.
- Are there plans to jointly use the Checkmate LTS with unmanned aerial vehicles?
- Both the manned versions of the Checkmate LTS and its unmanned modifications are capable of operating in a network-centric combat system, that is, working as part of a group of manned and unmanned aircraft. We plan to conduct such tests.