The Russian light tactical aircraft (LTS) of the fifth generation Checkmate is positioned as a competitor to the F-35 Lightning II. Columnist Brent Eastwood spoke about the advantage of the American aircraft over the LTS, known as the Su-75 and Checkmate, in the material 19FortyFive.
The average cost of the F-35 reaches $ 80 million, and the stated cost of the Checkmate will be approximately $ 30 million. This will make it possible to interest countries with developing air forces in the new aircraft.
The author notes that the plane was inspected by a delegation of high-ranking officials from the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai Airshow, but there were no orders.
Eastwood recalls that foreign customers operate more than 400 American F-35 aircraft. "The advantage of the F-35 over the Su-75 is the training of pilots. There are plans in the United States to create a pilot training center, and the Air Force is currently considering five different sites for this facility. This could be an advantage for the F-35, since US allies would not be thrilled with a trip to Russia to train pilots if Moscow offered such an option," the author stressed.
19FortyFive also notes that in order to compete with the F-35 in Russia, it is necessary to establish serial production of Checkmate. "The Su-75 still needs to be assembled in an amount corresponding to the spread of the F-35, and this may become a problem for the Russians," Eastwood said.
The head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Yuri Slyusar, said during the Dubai Airshow that production of the Su-75 has begun in Russia. Several aircraft are being built at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant.
The Checkmate single-engine aircraft was presented at the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon in July. The head of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov noted that the aircraft will cost from 30 to 35 million dollars.
Daniil Irinin
