![]() “The true reason is much simpler: the aircraft of this type are really in high demand on the world arms market.” “There is no need to look for a geopolitical aspect in our new light tactical aircraft,” Sergei Chemezov, the director-general of the state-owned Rostec, told The Wall Street Journal on Monday. The fighter, which was unveiled at the MAKS-2021 International Air Show outside of Moscow last month, is reported to be in high demand on the world’s arms market, said the head of the aircraft’s manufacturer. Additionally, the jet can be equipped with cannons for the destruction of ground targets.Russia’s newly unveiled fifth-generation fighter could be set to go on a world tour of sorts, as Rostec has touted the Checkmate, or sometimes called the Su-75, to potential international buyers as an affordable alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The fighter jet is capable of carrying up to five air-to-air missiles to detect and destroy hostile fifth-generation jets in long-range and close combat, according to the jet description on the producer-company’s website. And the flight range without outboard fuel tanks is 2,900 km. The maximum combat load of the fighter jet is said to be 7,400 kg. ![]() When ready, the ‘Checkmate’ jet will be used for combating air targets, as well as striking ground targets. The timeline for export of the ‘Checkmate’ jet appears to stretch for four years, as the officials say the first flight tests will be conducted in two years, in 2023, and in a few more years, the company will be ready to launch mass production and export of the new fighter jet. Although the official did not name the customer, he mentioned that it is an air force of a foreign country. The export-oriented ‘Checkmate’ jet already has an unnamed anchor customer who placed the first substantial order, according to the Russian government’s deputy chairman Yuri Borisov. ![]() “Taking into consideration the serious flight characteristics and sufficiently broad strike and reconnaissance capabilities of this machine, as well as low radar visibility, we hope that the fighter will be a serious competition to the leading Western manufacturers of fifth-generation light single-engine multifunctional fighters," said Dmitry Shugaev, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. We will have a price, I hope, somewhere from $25 to $30 million and they price from $60 to $90 million,” said Sergey Chemezov, Head of Rostec State Corporation, at the MAKS-2021 air show. Only we have set ourselves the task of delivering a very cheap and efficient aircraft. There are the following foreign analogs: the F-35, ‘Gripen’ and ‘Rafale’. “This is a fifth-generation light fighter. ![]() The Russian jet is also said to be much cheaper to pursue, compared to the F-35’s approximate cost of $80 million per jet. If the F-35’s cost per flying hour is approximately $33,000, then the Russian jet is expected to consume only $5,000 per flying hour, which makes the ‘Checkmate’ an appealing alternative for countries seeking to upgrade their fleet with the latest fighter jets, while also saving money. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |