KUBINKA, 27 Aug-RIA Novosti. Rosoboronexport is waiting for a decision from India on the acquisition of a fifth-generation Checkmate light fighter and is ready to consider a corresponding request from New Delhi, the company's CEO Alexander Mikheev told RIA Novosti.
The premiere of the Checkmate light tactical aircraft took place in July 2021 at the MAKS Air Show. Then Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov told reporters that Russia already has the first "anchor" (preliminary) customer for this car.
"At MAKS-2021, together with our colleagues from the UAC (United Aircraft Corporation, part of Rostec), we showed this aircraft to a number of foreign delegations, including the Indian one. We are waiting for their decision. If we receive an official request from our partners, we are ready to consider options for cooperation," Mikheev said when asked whether India was meant as an "anchor customer" of Checkmate.
As Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, previously told RIA Novosti, the main competitors of Checkmate will be the American F-35, the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen, the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder and the French Rafale. The head of the FSMTC stressed that the new light fighter can be in demand in the Middle East, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the CIS countries.
The Checkmate light single-engine fighter of the fifth generation will have reduced radar visibility, super maneuverability and elements of artificial intelligence. Its maximum combat load will exceed 7 tons, the maximum speed-up to two speeds of sound. As stated by the head of Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, this aircraft will cost $ 25-30 million, while its counterparts, the French Dassault Rafale and the Swedish Saab Gripen, will cost $ 60-90 million.
