Following the Su-57, a New Multi-Purpose Stealth Aircraft Unveiled
Strategic Move to Target the Mid-to-Low Price Stealth Aircraft Market
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russia unveiled a prototype of its newly developed stealth light fighter jet at an airshow, signaling its intention to compete with the U.S. F-35. Recently, due to security concerns and military expansion trends in key regions such as Europe, the Middle East, and Northeast Asia, demand for mid- to low-cost stealth fighters has surged, which is seen as a strategic move to dominate this market.
On the 20th (local time), according to Russian Interfax news agency and others, the Russian state-owned defense company United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) showcased a 5th-generation light fighter jet prototype developed by its subsidiary Sukhoi at the international aerospace exhibition airshow MAKS 202 held in Zhukovsky, a city southeast of Moscow.
The fighter jet was named "Checkmate," a chess term meaning a position from which the opponent cannot escape. The name implies cornering the adversary with no possible counter. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited the airshow venue in person, also attended the new fighter jet presentation event and expressed interest.
UAC emphasized that this fighter jet is a lightweight stealth aircraft designed to counter the U.S. F-35. UAC highlighted advantages such as lower operating costs compared to the F-35 and versatile combat capabilities. The fighter is known to be a single-engine aircraft equipped with advanced technologies, including AI-assisted flight control systems.
Checkmate can fly at speeds up to Mach 2 (approximately 2,448 km/h) and has a combat radius of about 3,000 km. Based on these specifications alone, expectations are high that its operational capabilities may surpass those of the F-35. UAC announced plans for the first flight in 2023 and mass production starting in 2026.
Sukhoi, the maker of Checkmate, previously developed the latest stealth fighter Su-57 as a rival to the U.S. 5th-generation stealth fighter F-22 Raptor. The Su-57 has been exported to China and several Middle Eastern countries at a lower price than the F-22. The development of Checkmate is also interpreted as a move to partially capture the expanding export market of the F-35 fighter jets.
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