DUBAI, Nov 15 - RIA Novosti. The Checkmate fighter is comparable to the F-35 in its characteristics, but noticeably cheaper than its American competitor, Rostec Corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov told reporters at the Dubai Airshow 2021.
"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," Chemezov said.
He stressed that the basic cost of the aircraft will be 30-35 million dollars.
According to him, in order to raise the aircraft by 2023, it is necessary "somewhere three experimental machines, three samples that will carry out test flights."
Rosoboronexport has already started its promotion. A number of negotiations have been held with foreign delegations, and proposals on the appearance of the car are being formed for them," Chemezov added.
The day before, the head of the UAC, Yuri Slyusar, said that the production of several Checkmates for testing had begun at the aircraft factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
The light tactical single-engine fighter of the fifth generation Checkmate will have low visibility and high flight and tactical characteristics at a low cost of flight hours, it will be equipped with an advanced complex of avionics. It is planned that Checkmate will be adaptive, due to which it can be assembled in several configurations in accordance with the wishes of the customer, including in an unmanned format.
