The main problem of the promising Russian light tactical aircraft (LTS), known as Checkmate and Su-75, is that this fighter does not exist in real life, but only virtually and in the form of a single demonstration model, says the Polish edition of Defence24.
The publication claims that the flight tests of the LTS could be delayed due to the "COVID-19 pandemic raging in Russia." "The history of the Su-57, with which the new car is connected by more than just the same letters and numbers in the name, does not inspire optimism," the publication assures.
Defence24 notes that Checkmate is aimed at foreign buyers who are able to invest in the development of this aircraft and, possibly, its production in their own country. In particular, for this purpose, part of the equipment that the Su-75 will receive will be modular.
In November, the American magazine The National Interest outlined the criterion for the success of the LTS. According to the publication, the success of Checkmate in foreign markets depends on its use by the Russian Armed Forces.
In the same month, the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yuri Slyusar said that the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur began production of LTS.
In November, the American edition of The Drive wrote that the LTS actually looks like an average fighter. The publication noted that "Checkmate has a length of about 17 meters with a wingspan of 12 meters, compared with similar figures of 20 and 14 meters for the Su-57."
In July, Rostec presented the LTS at the MAKS-21 International Aviation and Space Salon. According to Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov, a single-engine tactical fighter will cost from 25 to 30 million dollars. As the head of the United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar noted, the aircraft shown at the salon is a sample that will fly in 2023.
Ivan Potapov
