The general director of the Rostec state corporation, Sergey Chemezov, reported that the fighter is in demand on the global arms market
VLADIVOSTOK, September 3. /TASS/. Applications for the purchase of the Russian Checkmate light tactical fighter from foreign countries have not yet been received, Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), told reporters on Friday on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (WEF).
"No," he said in response to a corresponding question.
Earlier, the general director of the Rostec state Corporation, Sergey Chemezov, reported that Checkmate, first presented at the MAKS-2021 international Air show, is in demand on the global arms market. "There is no need to look for a geopolitical aspect in our new light tactical aircraft. The real reason is much simpler - cars of this class are really in high demand on the world market of military equipment, " he said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. According to him, Checkmate will be a "really working solution" for countries that cannot purchase the F-35 Lightning II fighter for $120 million. According to Rostec, the cost of the new Russian aircraft will be about $30 million.
The Checkmate fighter is made using stealth technologies, equipped with an internal fuselage compartment for air - to - air and air-to-surface aircraft weapons. The payload mass will exceed seven tons. The fighter will be able to simultaneously hit up to six targets. The car will be equipped with a highly efficient power plant. It is assumed that Checkmate will take to the air in 2023, and Rostec plans to start its mass production in 2026.
