Sukhoi LTS "Checkmate" #2

Can someone ID the missile in the middle?

Useless? Russia has nothing remotely similar to an unmanned LTS, that has the performance of a strike fighter (actually more) and can be purchased and used in a much more aggressive way. Do you expect cheap and/or subsonic drones to defeat fighters in air combat or to escort allied supersonic planes?

Su-57 controled subsonic stealthy drones can go and launch their missiles while su-35/57 get close for dogfights and finish what's left.

I don't see what more a UAV su-75 would add. It will be just a more expensive version of those subsonic drones.

Hole wrote:Can someone ID the missile in the middle?

It is one of the new gliding bombs

Can someone ID the missile in the middle?

http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/aerospace-systems/

You can check the kab 1500 bombs here. They seem very similar to this one which also seems to have the nose of the guided kab-500.

So IMO it's a new kab-1500.

K029B

Isos wrote:

Useless? Russia has nothing remotely similar to an unmanned LTS, that has the performance of a strike fighter (actually more) and can be purchased and used in a much more aggressive way. Do you expect cheap and/or subsonic drones to defeat fighters in air combat or to escort allied supersonic planes?

Su-57 controled subsonic stealthy drones can go and launch their missiles while su-35/57 get close for dogfights and finish what's left.

I don't see what more a UAV su-75 would add. It will be just a more expensive version of those subsonic drones.

Sometimes speed gives you an advantage. Especially in a big country like Russia.

Isos wrote:Su-57 controled subsonic stealthy drones can go and launch their missiles while su-35/57 get close for dogfights and finish what's left.

I don't see what more a UAV su-75 would add. It will be just a more expensive version of those subsonic drones.

Fighters are not supersonic planes with extreme kinematic capabilities for nothing, those subsonic drones would be annihilated by the enemy air power in no time and it does not matter how cheap they are, a missile is always going to be cheaper. Future drones will be analogous to current fighters or even more capable, so a fighter that can be produced in both versions is the ideal solution, since it will allow to increase the penetration of unmanned platforms in the fleet progressively and without the need to develop new platforms.

I checked some good resolution pictures of the LTS and Su-57, and they indeed seem to be at the same scale. There can be some distortion due to the perspective and the lenses, but it does not look serious enough to prevent from finally making some decent estimation of the plane's size. Basically the TASS info was right, I got almost the same values (17.6 m length and 11.9 m wingspan)

The picture is quite big, thanks to Tsar:
https://i.yapx.ru/PHoko.jpg

That's the size of a mig-29 which is only 3m smaller than the su-57 (20m) and 5m smaller than su-35 (22m).

You must remember that su-57 is smaller than su-35 (in terms of length).

Rob Lee
@RALee85
·
1h
Yuri Slyusar said production of several Sukhoi Checkmate prototypes has begun at KnAAZ and that they will try to begin serial production in 2025. It will receive a modified AL-41F1 engine (Izdeliye 117). 63/

AI can be a very useful asset in this type of scenario, but on the other hand it may well unintentionally start WW3

Even if all it does is act as a second pair of radars and IRSTs and some extra AAMs it will be useful.

Could think of it as a drone in the sense an army drone is used... to fly forward closer to the enemy than you are comfortable moving yourself to have a bit of a look around and then come back.

During an attack it is an extra thing firing at the enemy to keep them busy firing back at something that isn't you.

Size can be very deceptive but anyway according to the specs from the infograph above - which can be regarded as official - the length and wingspan of the Su-75 is given at 17.5m and 11.8m. This is almost identical to the Mig-29's spec of 17.3m in length and 11.3m for the wingspan.

The fact that it is physically the same dimensions means it will give the impression of being bigger because it is... with internal weapon bays it is much bigger in terms of volume.

Garry, the point made by Strelets is exactly that according to their analysis, Russia does not need a fleet of huge Flanker or similar planes for the type of actual combat missions they are going to perform, and that a single engine plane with sufficient but not excessive capacity is going to be much, much cheaper.

Of course it does, why else would they offer a single engined fighter for the job...

The real question is are they right... can they make that single engined fighter cheaper than a light twin engined design?

And we really can't answer that till someone comes up with one.

The LTS is not small, it is a plane with capabilities actually not that far from those of a Su-30SM (11 suspension points, 7.4 t payload, >2800 km range with a combat load) but with a ridiculously low operational cost. This is the fundamental argument they are going to use to convince the MOD

7.4 tons is a ridiculous payload capacity... how much smaller and cheaper could they have made the aircraft with a more sensible goal for payload capacity.

The Checkmate fighter will receive the AL-41F1 turbojet twin-circuit engine

The Checkmate single-engine fighter will receive a modified Product 117 engine (AL-41F1). This was announced to journalists by the designer of the Sukhoi company (part of the United Aviation Corporation (UAC) of the Rostec State Corporation). Mikhail Nikitushkin.

"The engine is an existing 117 engine with modifications for a single-engine aircraft in terms of reliability," he said.

So they are going to wire and pipe the plane like it has two engines but feed both sets of wires and pipes to the one engine to create redundancy... well Brownie points for improving safety, but negative points for losing all the simplification promised by just having one engine...

Can someone ID the missile in the middle?

It is a bomb.

The R-73 on the left, the Grom rocket powered glide bomb on the right and the centre is a new guided gliding bomb called KAB-500M or something I think.

GarryB wrote:t is a bomb.


The R-73 on the left, the Grom rocket powered glide bomb on the right and the centre is a new guided gliding bomb called KAB-500M or something I think.

The bomb to the center is export version of a planning bomb of 1500 kg named УПАБ-1500Б-Э with a planning range of 50 km, in this bomb's weight class do not exist any foreign counterparts even among precision/gliding kits for unguided bombs.

Two of those bombs allow to destroy a reinforced concrete building of middle size from 50 km of distance in area with totally inpaired satellite guidance.

The fact that it is physically the same dimensions means it will give the impression of being bigger because it is... with internal weapon bays it is much bigger in terms of volume.

If it was a single engine fighter the above argument could be valid but we are talking about a two engine Mig-29. That in itself takes up a lot more space than in a single engine fighter.

First buyers?

Rostec and the Ministry of Defense discuss the possibility of supplying the Checkmate fighter

At the same time, the head of the state corporation Sergey Chemezov noted that Checkmate is also interested in the UAE

DUBAI, November 15. /tass/. The possibility of supplying the fifth-generation single-engine fighter Checkmate to the troops was discussed with the Russian Ministry of Defense. This was announced to journalists during the Dubai Airshow 2021 international air show by the head of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov.

"Yes, they wanted to take it, of course. We recently discussed with the Minister [of Defense] that they need to formulate their TOR, in what form they want to see this aircraft. Now the appearance that we made is at our own expense and at the expense of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, " he said, answering a question about the possibility of supplying Checkmate to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Chemezov also noted that the Russian defense Ministry may be offered the vehicle in an unmanned version. "Checkmate can not only be piloted, it can also be made unmanned. There is a lot of interest in drones right now, " he said.
Foreign interest

The head of Rostec also said that representatives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are interested in the new Russian single-engine fighter and intend to study it in more detail. "You saw the plane yourself. Beautiful, good plane turned out. The United Arab Emirates is already interested, they want to see and discuss the car in more detail, " Chemezov said.

He expressed confidence that there will also be demand from other countries with which meetings are scheduled. "We have a significant advantage over others. First, this aircraft is an open configuration: we offer a base, we can hang any weapons that the customer wants on it. In addition, various electronics, electronic warfare equipment, means for capturing targets, and so on are being installed," Chemezov explained.

He noted that these options can be executed and installed at the request of the customer. "And, of course, because of this, the price varies. The base price, I hope, will be around $30-35 million," the head of Rostec said.

At the same time, the head of Rostec noted that there is already a foreign customer interested in acquiring Checkmate.

"Until the contract is signed, we do not say who the customer is <...> While only the technical side is being discussed. All conditions will become clear after the first flight, which we plan for 2023, " he said, adding that there is already interest from a particular country.

According to Chemezov, foreign weapons will need to be adapted to the Russian fighter. "We offer those options that are already available and with which tests were carried out on the Su-57. These developments have already been developed, tested, and proven effective, so it's much easier and cheaper, " he said.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/12923647

Three prototypes of the new Checkmate fighter will be created by 2023

Rosoboronexport has already started promoting the fighter jet

DUBAI, November 15. /tass/. Three prototypes of the latest Russian single-engine fighter Checkmate will be created for the first flight of the aircraft, which is scheduled for 2023. This was announced to journalists by the head of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov during the Dubai Airshow 2021 international air show.

"To raise the plane, you need about three prototype vehicles, three samples that will carry out test flights," he said, answering the question of whether they will have time to build several aircraft by the first Checkmate flight scheduled for 2023.

Chemezov noted that Rosoboronexport has already started promoting the fighter. "A number of negotiations have been held with foreign delegations, and now proposals are being formed for them on the appearance of the car," he said.

"I would consider the JF-17, J-10, F-16 as competitors, but only the F-35 boasts comparable capabilities. However, our aircraft is more cost-effective, both in terms of the cost of the car and the cost of the flight hour. At the same time, it can take on board a record amount of weapons. Therefore, I believe that the aircraft has good export prospects, " said the head of Rostec.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/12923611

Kiko wrote:

It's cool and all but why are they using a footage from AH-64's TADS system?

Sukhoi’s Checkmate Looks To Carve Out Niche In International Fighter Market

Piotr Butowski November 14, 2021

Sukhoi’s single-engine fighter, the sensation of MAKS 2021 in July, makes its international debut in Dubai. But in a way it is a homecoming, because the stimulus that directly pushed Russia to develop the aircraft came from the Emirates.

At IDEX 2017 in Abu Dhabi, Russia and the UAE signed an agreement to cooperate in the development of a next-generation light fighter. The head of Rostec Corporation Sergey Chemezov announced the signing of the appropriate contract later that year. The project, however, did not go any further.

Nevertheless, the development work had been set in motion and Rostec, to which the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) belongs, decided to continue the project without a foreign partner. In early 2020, Sukhoi started the detailed design work and completed a model aircraft in May 2021. The fighter is promised to make its maiden flight in 2023, and in 2027, full-scale production may start.

The fighter was revealed with the designation LTS (Lightweight Tactical Aircraft) and the English nickname the “Checkmate.” The number “75” was painted on the side—because “the numbers seven and five are lucky for Sukhoi,” says Alexey Bulatov, the deputy chief designer of the project. The 75 is also an inversion of the digits from the designation of the Su-57, which is to be complemented by the new LTS. Since the unveiling, numerous publications have referred to the fighter as the Su-75, a designation which was not explicitly given at the time. However, Russia’s Industry Minister Denis Manturov subsequently agreed that it would be appropriate to designate it the Su-75.

The advertising slogan for the project is “turn the chessboard”—a literal translation of the Russian idiom meaning to change the rules of the game. It is also a somewhat malicious reference to the title of Zbigniew Brzezinski’s book “The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives,” which was published in 1997 and carefully read in Russia.

Why is the Checkmate project being carried out with such determination? The first reason is the experience, new technologies and even specific construction elements gained in the course of work on the Su-57. The Checkmate has the same AL-41F1 engine as the Su-57; it also uses the same wing outer panels, vertical fins, and a large part of that type’s systems, avionics and weapons. The Su-57 laid the groundwork, considerably reducing the cost, time and technical risk of the new project.

The second is the readiness of Rostec and UAC to invest their own money, without waiting for an external investor. That decision has been supported by the occasional interest of prospective foreign buyers. The most recent example came from Argentina, which this spring asked Russia for a modern light fighter offer. The cheapest aircraft Russia could suggest was the MiG-35, which is neither light nor cheap. If Russia had a modern single-engine fighter with low operating costs, it would have been a strong candidate there.
Low Price, High Capability

The main advantage of the Su-75 is set to be its low price and high combat potential. UAC CEO Yuri Slyusar said the Checkmate will be offered at a similar price to the Gripen NG; Chemezov set the fighter’s price at $25-30 million. Mikhail Strelets, head of Sukhoi Design Bureau, declared that the Checkmate’s flight-hour cost will be “seven times less” than an F-35’s.

When asked to compare it with the F-35A, Bulatov says the LTS will offer higher speed, longer range and the ability to carry more payloads. It is aimed to reach at least Mach 1.8, over 2,800 km (1,740 mi.) range on one tank of fuel and has a 16.5-km (53,800-ft.) altitude ceiling. Unlike the F-35, the Checkmate “is a full-fledged supersonic fighter,” says Bulatov, echoing Russian opinions that are highly critical of the F-35’s flight characteristics.

Chemezov said in July that there was no launch customer for the Checkmate, but “we see a demand for such an airplane.” According to Slyusar, UAC expects to sell 300 fighters over 15 years, and this is “not wishful thinking, but a careful calculation of market demand.”

The Su-75 may be offered to the Indian contest for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft; however, the competition there is extremely strong. Other potential large customers—Algeria, Egypt, Vietnam, and former USSR states Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan—have recently bought MiG-29Ms or Su-30s and will not need new aircraft soon. Iran could be a significant buyer, once sanctions are lifted. Smaller customers could be current MiG-29 operators, such as Bangladesh, Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea, Peru, Serbia, Sudan and Syria. There may also be exotic clients, outside the pool of traditional Russian aircraft buyers, such as Argentina or UAE, from where the story started. The Russian Aerospace Forces would buy Su-75s if the Kremlin believes it would support exports of the fighter. Notably, the Checkmate trailer features “pilots” from Argentina, India, the UAE and Vietnam.

While the Su-75 will not overturn the chessboard, it looks certain to find its niche in the international fighter market.

https://aviationweek.com/shownews/dubai-airshow/sukhois-checkmate-looks-carve-out-niche-international-fighter-market

LMFS wrote:Rostec and the Ministry of Defense discuss the possibility of supplying the Checkmate fighter

i am anxious to see a contract by MoD

DUBAI, November 15. /TASS/. Russia’s state tech corporation Rostec unveiled the unmanned version of the cutting-edge Checkmate fighter, the Rostec press office announced at the Dubai Airshow 2021 on Monday.

https://tass.com/defense/1361333

George1 wrote:i am anxious to see a contract by MoD

I think this will come sooner rather than later, among other reasons because it is an important argument for foreign customers

Rostec, Russian Defense Ministry start discussing Checkmate contract — Chemezov, 15/11/2021.

DUBAI, November 15. /TASS/. Rostec and the Russian Defense Ministry have discussed the outlook for the deliveries of the Checkmate single-engine fifth-generation fighter jet to the armed forces, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov told reporters at the Dubai Airshow.

"They wanted to have some, of course. We recently discussed with the minister [of defense] that they need to come up with mission requirements stating what configuration they are looking for in the jet,’’ he said. ‘’The configuration that we have made now was funded by us and the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry.’’

Russia’s Defense Ministry has the option of getting the plane as an unmanned aerial vehicle. Checkmate ‘’may be converted into a UAV,’’ he said. ‘’There’s great interest in UAVs at the moment.’’

The Checkmate light tactical jet was first unveiled at the MAKS-2021 air show. It’s now being presented internationally at the Dubai Airshow 2021, which is taking place in the United Arab Emirates from November 14-18.

The Checkmate uses advanced technology including open architecture to meet customer requirements and unique artificial intelligence technology. The jet also uses stealth technology and is equipped with an inboard compartment for air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions. The payload weight will exceed 7 metric tons. The fighter jet will be capable of destroying up to six targets simultaneously. The single-engine jet will travel at the speed of Mach 1.8, while the combat range will extend to 3,000 kilometers.

https://tass.com/defense/1361501