Putin Unveils Russia’s New Single Engine Jet ‘LTS Checkmate Fighter’

Russian President Vladimir Putin today unveiled United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)’s new single engine stealth fighter jet at the MAKS-2021 air show in Zhukovsky near Moscow called ‘LTS Checkmate Fighter.’

After the completion of the opening ceremony, the head of state arrived at the exhibition pavilion of the Sukhoi company, where the head of the Rostec State Corporation Sergei Chemezov and the General Director of the United Aircraft Building Corporation Yuri Slyusar presented to Putin the new LTS Checkmate fighter.

Several reports say that the aircraft displayed is a mock-up  but UAC made no comments as at the time of writing.

LTS is a fifth-generation light single-engine fighter whitch combines innovative solutions and technologies, including artificial intelligence support for the pilot's work, as well as proven solutions The fighter has low visibility and high flight performance. Supercomputer technologies are widely used in the work on the LTS Checkmate project, according to a UAC release.

Yuri Slyusar, during the presentation of the new fighter, emphasized that the LTS is a multifunctional platform of a new generation, which is distinguished by the ability to adapt to the needs of a specific customer, low operating costs and broad combat capabilities.

Low price, meant for export

“The new multipurpose light single-engine fighter is, first of all, an export vehicle. But according to the tests, it is possible that the (Russian) Ministry of Defense will also be interested, ”said Dmitry Shugaev, head of Russia’s arms export coordinator, FSMTC told the official Zvezda TV.

He said that the aircraft has wide strike and reconnaissance capabilities, low radar signature, and much more.

Shugaev stressed that competitors will be unpleasantly surprised by the price of the new aircraft. The FSMTC hopes that with this new proposal, Russia will occupy an important niche in the market for light single-engine fifth-generation multipurpose aircraft.