During the MAKS 2021 international air show, Sukhoi unveiled its newly developed single engine stealth fighter designed to compete against t...
During the MAKS 2021 international air show, Sukhoi unveiled its newly developed single engine stealth fighter designed to compete against the US made Lockheed Martin F-35A.
Dubbed the Su-75 Checkmate, the aircraft will fill the void of light weight single engined Russian designed aircraft in the market. Currently the US made F-35 and the Chinese FC-31 are the only flying competitors.
The Checkmate will be a ideal aircraft aircraft for export, with potential customers being Turkey, India, Vietnam and Argentina.
The aircraft design features a sleek fuselage with a chin mounted forward swept air intake and canted V-tail. The air intake is equipped with a divider plate in the middle.
Sukhoi says the aircraft will be capable of carrying a 7400 kg payload with a unrefueled flight range of 2800 km.
It will be powered by a single AL-31F based engine with super cruise capability and a maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
Checkmate is equipped with 3 internal weapon bays, a large main bay on the bottom of the fuselage and two small bays on the sides of the air intake. It can carry 5 air to air missiles in stealth configuration. The side weapon bays can also configured to house the gun.
The electronic sensors include a AESA radar capable of engaging 5 aerial targets simultaneously, and Infrared and Optical sensors.
Like the F-35's ALIS system, the Checkmate will also be equipped with the Matreska Automated Logistic Support system that will enable advance maintenance planning and troubleshooting reducing downtime and increasing aircraft availability.
First flight is expected in 2023 and first delivery will take another four years.
