Rosoboronexport has already started promoting the fighter
DUBAI, November 15. /tass/. Three prototypes of the newest Russian single-engine fighter Checkmate will be created for the first flight of the aircraft, which is scheduled for 2023. This was announced to journalists by the head of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov during the Dubai Airshow 2021 international Airshow.
"To lift an airplane, you need somewhere three experimental machines, three samples that will carry out test flights," he said, answering the question whether they will have time to build several aircraft by the first Checkmate flight scheduled for 2023.
Chemezov noted that Rosoboronexport has already started promoting the fighter. "A number of negotiations have been held with foreign delegations, and proposals on the appearance of the car are being formed for them," he said.
"I would consider the JF-17, J-10, F-16 to be competitors, but only the F-35 can boast comparable capabilities. Nevertheless, our aircraft is economically more profitable, both in terms of the cost of the car and the cost of the flight hour. At the same time, he can take on board a record amount of weapons. Therefore, I believe that the aircraft has good export prospects," the head of Rostec said.
Earlier, the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec), Yuri Slyusar, told reporters that work on the production of several more prototypes of the newest Checkmate fighter began simultaneously in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
For the first time, the Checkmate light tactical aircraft was presented at the MAKS-2021 air Show. The foreign presentation of the fighter took place at the Dubai Airshow 2021.
The international exhibition Dubai Airshow 2021 takes place from November 14 to 18 in the United Arab Emirates. Russia has prepared a number of world premieres for the air show.
