Sukhoi LTS "Checkmate" #2

So did they actually mis-scale the pics?

Some quotes from TASS' special, specially interesting are the ones from Strelets regarding Syria and the joint operation of Su-57/75 and drones, all relevant to understand its potential use in the VKS

Analysis of the results of the use of strike aircraft systems in Syria has shown that the capabilities of heavy twin-engine aircraft systems are redundant to perform most tasks
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Today, the trend towards the unification of the fleet of aircraft is gaining strength in the world. Due to the large degree of interproject unification, the joint use of Su-57, Checkmate and unmanned aerial vehicles can form an optimally balanced fleet for various tasks with minimal operating costs and high combat potential.
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When creating the aircraft, the designers paid special attention to maintaining a rational balance between proven technical solutions and breakthrough technologies, capabilities and cost of the machine. Thanks to this, Checkmate received a unique combination of flight characteristics, combat effectiveness at an affordable price and low cost of flight hours

Mikhail Strelets, Chief designer of LTS

The aircraft was initially created as a platform for a whole family of aviation complexes. We are planning to create an optional manned and unmanned modification of the aircraft.

The unmanned modification is not just a fashion statement. We are already at an early stage of the project laying in it ample opportunities for use in the framework of network-centric military operations. The aircraft will be able to exchange information and target other aircraft systems and unmanned aerial vehicles. The use of unmanned versions of the machine will allow, among other things, to implement new tactical techniques

Yuri Slyusar, General Director of UAC

The modern conflict is not just a confrontation between planes and tanks. Today, first of all, it is the struggle of the economies. To gain the upper hand, you need to use resources more rationally than your opponent does, respond asymmetrically, and be more effective

Bekhan Ozdoev, Industrial Director of the Arms Cluster of Rostec Corporation

The modern conflict is not just a confrontation between planes and tanks. Today, first of all, it is the struggle of the economies. To gain the upper hand, you need to use resources more rationally than your opponent does, respond asymmetrically, and be more effective

Right on the money!

Comparison of the size of the Su-75 and F-35. For those who are surprised by the size: I saw the prototype at MAKS-2021, I brought photos here. It is big, it is significantly larger than the MiG-29. The lower surface of its wing is at a height of about 2 meters.

Scorpius wrote:Comparison of the size of the Su-75 and F-35. For those who are surprised by the size: I saw the prototype at MAKS-2021, I brought photos here. It is big, it is significantly larger than the MiG-29. The lower surface of its wing is at a height of about 2 meters.

The numbers say the LTS has almost identical external dimensions compared to the MiG-29, but it sits very high on its landing gear, most probably because of the ground clearance needed to load the main weapon bay. My impression is that it makes it look bigger than it is, not to say it is small, because it is definitely not, but it may affect the subjective appreciation of its size.

I wonder to what extent the rather large airframe size and the significant rear part of it where the heat exchangers are placed have to do with the cooling needs required for future growth potential. A very compact airframe like that of the F-35 probably has better friction drag, but also a size and form factor that do not help with heat rejection, which is an increasingly important limiting factor for modern combat aircraft.

Promo renders:

Haha they are making a checkmate fighter themed cologne. How can something be so cringy be so badass?

I want it right now.

TMA1 wrote:Haha they are making a checkmate fighter themed cologne. How can something be so cringy be so badass?
I want it right now.

Stopped using cologne halfway through college when I realized that good hand cream is much easier on the skin


As for unmanned version of Su-75 do you guys have any idea what an insane range that thing will be having with all that extra space for even more fuel?

It will be doing 5000km easy

It is big, it is significantly larger than the MiG-29.

It's almost exactly the same size as the Mig-29 in terms of length and wingspan.

PapaDragon wrote:

TMA1 wrote:Haha they are making a checkmate fighter themed cologne. How can something be so cringy be so badass?
I want it right now.

Stopped using cologne halfway through college when I realized that good hand cream is much easier on the skin


As for unmanned version of Su-75 do you guys have any idea what an insane range that thing will be having with all that extra space for even more fuel?

It will be doing 5000km easy

Less than S-70 since it is smaller. Extra space will be also used for extra electronics and antennas.

It should have some 300-500km more. A bit like the difference between the Vtol and normal f-35.

But I'm not impressed by the UAV variant. Pretty useless when they have manned fighters escorted by other drones.

Mir wrote:

It is big, it is significantly larger than the MiG-29.

It's almost exactly the same size as the Mig-29 in terms of length and wingspan.

I was next to the MiG-29, I was next to the Su-75. The Su-75 feels much larger in size than the MiG-29.

But I'm not impressed by the UAV variant. Pretty useless when they have manned fighters escorted by other drones.

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

Scorpius wrote:]

I was next to the MiG-29, I was next to the Su-57. The Su-57 feels much larger in size than the MiG-29.

I presume you are referring to the Su-75 and not the su-57?

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.

Mir wrote:

Scorpius wrote:]

I was next to the MiG-29, I was next to the Su-57. The Su-57 feels much larger in size than the MiG-29.

I presume you are referring to the Su-75 and not the su-57?

YES, thanks for the correction, it was an unconscious typo. I fixed it.

GarryB wrote:Redundancy is a normal positive attribute for most aircraft... especially helicopters.

It only becomes a negative if it incurs an unnecessary cost penalty and there is no evidence that it does... I have seen no evidence that a redesigned MiG-35 with a single engine would be cheaper to buy or operate as a single engined fighter.

Indeed further there is no evidence that the single engine design would offer comparable performance to a similar twin.

The Gripen loses aircraft contracts because it can't do the job the much more expensive twins it competes with can perform.

Being smaller and lighter and cheaper is no benefit if you are no longer able to perform the mission.

As probably identified in Syria an Su-24 with two engines carrying and dropping 2 x 500kg dumb iron bombs is cheap but a lighter single engined fighter could easily do the same for less cost... hense the MiG model of what looked like a lead in fighter trainer single engined fighter with canards is probably optimised for such a role too and being smaller and lighter is likely cheaper than Checkmate...

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. He is also making a point about the force planing based on Su-57, Su-75 and drones with exactly the same focus on optimal economic efficiency, so their opinion in that regard is stated clearly for all of us to see. 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

Isos wrote:But I'm not impressed by the UAV variant. Pretty useless when they have manned fighters escorted by other drones.

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?

Scorpius wrote:
I was next to the MiG-29, I was next to the Su-75. The Su-75 feels much larger in size than the MiG-29.

I bet it does, that is why I mentioned the height of the plane. The MiG-29 stands much lower on its undercarriage compared to the LTS.

BTW, some good undistorted views of the LTS:

In Komsomolsk, work began on the production of several prototypes of Checkmate

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/12919313

The head of the UAC said that the supply of the Checkmate fighter could begin earlier than the plan

Deliveries of the newest Checkmate fighter jet could begin in 2025 - a year ahead of schedule. This was announced to reporters on Sunday by the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec) Yuri Slyusar.

"2026 is the beginning of deliveries. We are working to move to the left, and that started in 2025," Slyusar said.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/12919307

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.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/12919371

First footage of Russian Checkmate at the Dubai air show

Some interesting images from the brochure:

MRAAMs can be carried in the side bays:


Twin seater and unmanned versions:

The Checkmate single-engine fighter will receive a modified "Izdelie 117" engine (AL-41F1). This was reported to journalists by the designer of the Sukhoi company (part of the United Aviation Corporation (UAC) of the Rostec State Corporation) Mikhail Nikitushkin.
https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/12919371