What we know about the UAC Sukhoi Checkmate LTS
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UAC Checkmate. Picture :Rostec
During the recent International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2021, the United Aircraft Corporation of Russia, through its Sukhoi division unveiled a new 5th generation fighter, the so called Checkmate LTS. This will be a fighter that is designed as a mainly for export, affordable and an option for countries that cannot get the F-35 in the future.
Since the unveiling, there is quite a few information that we have learned about the Checkmate LTS. Lets start with the preliminary specifications of this aircraft and the official English video of the unveiling.
General characteristics
Crew: 1 (later versions for 2 or unmanned)
Length: 18m
Wingspan: 12m
Height:
Empty weight: 8.000 - 9.500kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 18.000kg
Payload: 7.400kg
Engine: initially Al-41F1, later Izd. 30 with 3D TVC
Performance
Max. speed: Mach 1.8 - 2
Supercruise: Mach 1.5 - 1.6 (targeted)
Range: 2800 - 3000km
Service ceiling: 16.500m
Max. G-limits: 8G (11-12G for unmanned version)
Armament
Air to Air*:
2x RVV-MD (short range)
3x RVV-SD (long range)
1x 30mm cannon (-1x RVV-MD if install cannon)
*info. for internal carriage only.
Air to Ground:
Kh-38MLE, Kh-58UShKE, Grom-E1, Grom-E2, FAB-250M, KAB-250LG-E, K08BE, K029BE
FAB-100, FAB-250, FAB-500
S-8, S13
Avionics
Radar: N036 with "adjusted" capabilities for export, able to track 30 targets engage 6 simultaneously.
General characteristics
Crew: 1 (later versions for 2 or unmanned)
Length: 18m
Wingspan: 12m
Height:
Empty weight: 8.000 - 9.500kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 18.000kg
Payload: 7.400kg
Engine: initially Al-41F1, later Izd. 30 with 3D TVC
Performance
Max. speed: Mach 1.8 - 2
Supercruise: Mach 1.5 - 1.6 (targeted)
Range: 2800 - 3000km
Service ceiling: 16.500m
Max. G-limits: 8G (11-12G for unmanned version)
Armament
Air to Air*:
2x RVV-MD (short range)
3x RVV-SD (long range)
1x 30mm cannon (-1x RVV-MD if install cannon)
*info. for internal carriage only.
Air to Ground:
Kh-38MLE, Kh-58UShKE, Grom-E1, Grom-E2, FAB-250M, KAB-250LG-E, K08BE, K029BE
FAB-100, FAB-250, FAB-500
S-8, S13
Avionics
Radar: N036 with "adjusted" capabilities for export, able to track 30 targets engage 6 simultaneously.
Integrated electro-optical suite: 101KS-V for A-A, 101KS-U, 101KS-O (later), KOEPS-75 for A-G (optional)
Price
$25-$30 million depending on the configuration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS4jm7lyHr4
tanahairdefence.blogspot.com
Lets discuss the things that we know as of now.
- General characteristics and performance.
From what we can see, Checkmate is designed as a medium weight fighter roughly of the similar size to the F-35. To compare, the KF-21 Boramae is a little bit smaller than the F-35. The Turkish TF-X on the other hand, is designed to be a heavy fighter the size of the F-22, F-15, Su-35 and Su-57, with the costs to match. The TF-X will initially use 2x of the GE F110 engine powering the F-16 and F-15SG build by TUSAS Turkey.
The performance and range of the Checkmate is quite impressive, if it turns out to be true. The weight of the aircraft is also still a mystery, as the maximum weight of 18 tons that is quoted is impossibly light to be the maximum takeoff weight if it can carry 7.4 tons of payload. The KF-21 Boramae for example, has a maximum takeoff weight of 25.4 tons. Another visible design trade off is a relatively lower maximum G-load limit of 8G, compared to the usual Russian standard of 9G.
As for the aerostructure and hardwares, it is said that a lot of it is lifted directly from the Sukhoi Su-57. What we can see is that the fuselage from the cockpit forward is almost identical to the Su-57. The wing planform shape is also almost identical. The tailplane is said to be interchangeable with the Su-57. The engine is the same too. Components sharing means lower cost through a bigger production volume, and also zero development costs.
For the stealth capability, I believe the Checkmate would be at best a low observable (LO) design, not to the level of F-35 very low observable (VLO) spec.
There will be 3 variants of the Checkmate, a single and two seater versions, also a fully unmanned UCAV version. The checkmate is designed to be operated from austere airfields, with minimum specialized ground support equipments. It is also designed to be operated by air forces that does not have extensive aircraft support infrastructures. The Checkmate basically is designed to be the MiG-21 or the F-5E of the 21st century. The Director Jeneral of UAC, Yuri Slyusar have said that the operational cost of the Checkmate is said to be just 1/7th of the F-35. That is surely the similar operational cost of something like the Gripen, further increasing the appeal of the Checkmate among cost conscious operators.
- General characteristics and performance.
From what we can see, Checkmate is designed as a medium weight fighter roughly of the similar size to the F-35. To compare, the KF-21 Boramae is a little bit smaller than the F-35. The Turkish TF-X on the other hand, is designed to be a heavy fighter the size of the F-22, F-15, Su-35 and Su-57, with the costs to match. The TF-X will initially use 2x of the GE F110 engine powering the F-16 and F-15SG build by TUSAS Turkey.
The performance and range of the Checkmate is quite impressive, if it turns out to be true. The weight of the aircraft is also still a mystery, as the maximum weight of 18 tons that is quoted is impossibly light to be the maximum takeoff weight if it can carry 7.4 tons of payload. The KF-21 Boramae for example, has a maximum takeoff weight of 25.4 tons. Another visible design trade off is a relatively lower maximum G-load limit of 8G, compared to the usual Russian standard of 9G.
As for the aerostructure and hardwares, it is said that a lot of it is lifted directly from the Sukhoi Su-57. What we can see is that the fuselage from the cockpit forward is almost identical to the Su-57. The wing planform shape is also almost identical. The tailplane is said to be interchangeable with the Su-57. The engine is the same too. Components sharing means lower cost through a bigger production volume, and also zero development costs.
For the stealth capability, I believe the Checkmate would be at best a low observable (LO) design, not to the level of F-35 very low observable (VLO) spec.
There will be 3 variants of the Checkmate, a single and two seater versions, also a fully unmanned UCAV version. The checkmate is designed to be operated from austere airfields, with minimum specialized ground support equipments. It is also designed to be operated by air forces that does not have extensive aircraft support infrastructures. The Checkmate basically is designed to be the MiG-21 or the F-5E of the 21st century. The Director Jeneral of UAC, Yuri Slyusar have said that the operational cost of the Checkmate is said to be just 1/7th of the F-35. That is surely the similar operational cost of something like the Gripen, further increasing the appeal of the Checkmate among cost conscious operators.
Checkmate 3-view. Picture : Paralay Forum
Checkmate vs. F-35 . Picture : Paralay Forum
- Armament.
The armament of the Checkmate is obviously of russian origin. The Checkmate has 3 internal weapons bay, the main central weapons bay, and two "cheek" mounted weapons bay, positioned in front of the main landing gears. For whatever reasons, the designer has opted not to install a permanently mounted internal gun to the fighter, unlike the F35A or KF-21 Boramae. Instead, a gun pack could be installed in one of the "cheek" weapons bay, eliminating the carriage of a RVV-MD short range air to air missiles. For a full air-to-air mission, the Checkmate could be fitted internally with 3x RVV-SD long range missiles in the central weapons bay, and 2x RVV-MD short range missiles in the :cheek: weapons bay for a total of 5x air-to-air missiles. For air to surface and anti-ship missions, most of the usual russian missiles and bombs could be carried. As of now, there is no information yet about external pylons on the aircraft for the carriage of weapons or drop tanks externally.
The armament of the Checkmate is obviously of russian origin. The Checkmate has 3 internal weapons bay, the main central weapons bay, and two "cheek" mounted weapons bay, positioned in front of the main landing gears. For whatever reasons, the designer has opted not to install a permanently mounted internal gun to the fighter, unlike the F35A or KF-21 Boramae. Instead, a gun pack could be installed in one of the "cheek" weapons bay, eliminating the carriage of a RVV-MD short range air to air missiles. For a full air-to-air mission, the Checkmate could be fitted internally with 3x RVV-SD long range missiles in the central weapons bay, and 2x RVV-MD short range missiles in the :cheek: weapons bay for a total of 5x air-to-air missiles. For air to surface and anti-ship missions, most of the usual russian missiles and bombs could be carried. As of now, there is no information yet about external pylons on the aircraft for the carriage of weapons or drop tanks externally.
- Avionics.
The avionics would be fully russian, although fitment of foreign avionics might be possible as it is touted to have an "open" architecture to enable that. The cockpit is fitted with a wide-angle HUD with a big LCD multi-function display at the bottom. Still no information about the Helmet Mounted Display that would be supplied. Most of the sensors (radars, ESM, optronics) is derived from the Su-57 program. There is a prominent build-in EO structure at the bottom of the intake that has the nose landing gear to be offset to make room for the EO structure. A directed infrared countermeasure system (DIRCM) is also planned to be fitted to the checkmate.
The avionics would be fully russian, although fitment of foreign avionics might be possible as it is touted to have an "open" architecture to enable that. The cockpit is fitted with a wide-angle HUD with a big LCD multi-function display at the bottom. Still no information about the Helmet Mounted Display that would be supplied. Most of the sensors (radars, ESM, optronics) is derived from the Su-57 program. There is a prominent build-in EO structure at the bottom of the intake that has the nose landing gear to be offset to make room for the EO structure. A directed infrared countermeasure system (DIRCM) is also planned to be fitted to the checkmate.
- Price.
The officially quoted price of the Checkmate is put at "less than USD30 million" or USD-25-30 million per unit. This has many of western observers to deride the price as "unworkable" or "fake". In my opinion, the quoted price is perfectly fine, for flyaway aircraft sold to Russian air force or friendly countries like Armenia and Kazakhstan than is given the preferential export price. From open sources, we know that Su-30SM price sold to Armenia and Kazakhstan is around USD25-30 million, and Su-57 price for Russian Air Force is put at USD40 million. Malaysia bought its Su-30MKM including French and South African avionics for USD50 million each. I believe a price of around USD35-40 million for export would be the norm for the Checkmate, which will replace the MiG-35 in that price range for Russian fighter exports. This will undercut offerings such as the Gripen or the Tejas in the market. The KF-21 Boramae for example is estimated to be around USD70 million each. At the launch, UAC officials conservatively put the export figures of the Checkmate to be around 300 aircraft. I believe they can easily achieve those numbers and exceed them. I would see the Checkmate being bought by :
Algeria - 30-60
Argentina - 12-24
Bangladesh - 12-24
Belarus - 40
Egypt - 40-80
India - ??
Iran - ??
Kazakhstan - 24-48
Iran - ??
Kazakhstan - 24-48
Myanmar - 12-24
Peru - 12-24
Peru - 12-24
Serbia - 12-24
Syria - 40-80
Sudan - 12-24
Turkmenistan - 24-48
UAE - ?? (can it buy F-35 while still getting the checkmate? I don't think so)
Uzbekistan - 24-48
Vietnam - 30-60
- Conclusion.
With the checkmate, if it happens, most of the world will have a viable option to replace their russian and non-stealthy fighter aircraft in the near future with an affordable low observable fighter aircraft. With a price that undercuts even fighters such as the Gripen, the Checkmate would surely be a fairly common sight around the world in the future.
Syria - 40-80
Sudan - 12-24
Turkmenistan - 24-48
UAE - ?? (can it buy F-35 while still getting the checkmate? I don't think so)
Uzbekistan - 24-48
Vietnam - 30-60
- Conclusion.
With the checkmate, if it happens, most of the world will have a viable option to replace their russian and non-stealthy fighter aircraft in the near future with an affordable low observable fighter aircraft. With a price that undercuts even fighters such as the Gripen, the Checkmate would surely be a fairly common sight around the world in the future.
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