What would be the hardest technology for the Russia’s to master if the aircraft is seen as a counter/alternative to F-35? However, I suspect that they would prefer to increase the quantities and maturity of the Su-57 over committing to the LTA on a large scale. Therefore, if the LTA is developed successfully into an operational aircraft, then I’m sure that the VKS will purchase it on a limited scale. The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) tend to purchase a range of different combat aircraft at a small scale to keep the various formerly Sukhoi and Mikoyan design bureaus and production lines viable. Will it be used domestically? How will it aid the Su-57 force and what would it replace?
The slow development pace and limited procurement scale of the Su-57 Felon (which is far more important to Russia’s own defence needs) shows the limits of UAC’s ability to develop the LTA to an operational aircraft without significant external funding. The slick PR campaign and dramatic reveal at MAKS is obviously an attempt to convince some of the nations mentioned in the Rostek commercial to buy into a nascent development programme.
I would suggest that this is a long way from an operational aircraft. Image: Vasily Kuznetsov: far is Russia from an operational Checkmate? This suggests to me that the LTA has a lessened design emphasis on supermanoeuvrability than previous Russian fighter designs. Instead, it would appear that pitch authority will be provided by a combination of tailless delta style elevon control and at least 2D thrust-vectoring. Instead, the LTA has canted stabilisers which are more vertical than I would have expected if a ruddervator (or V-Tail) configuration was intended to provide primary pitch authority. One particularly notable feature is the lack of conventional elevators. The latter, however, will be limited in size due to the narrow and aggressively tapered nose profile. It is also likely to have a modest range with internal fuel due to the competing demands for landing gear housing, weapons bays and avionics within a compact airframe.Īs with the Su-57, the LTA features an Infra-Red Scan and Track (IRST) sensor embedded at the junction between the forward canopy and the nose, and will likely feature an active electronically scanned array (AESA) type radar in the nose. However, larger air-to-air and air-to-ground ordinance would likely have to be carried externally. I would guess two IR dogfight missiles in the small side-mounted bays ahead of the main landing gear, and space for 2-4 R-77 class BVR missiles in a ventral bay. The relatively compact size and engine/intake placement will limit the space available for internal weapon bays. The Light Tactical Aircraft (LTA) designation and the configuration show that this is clearly a concept aimed at producing a relatively cheap and cheerful, somewhat low observable light fighter, primarily for the export market. What does the configuration reveal about the aircraft’s role and capabilities? However, the lack of wiring and hydraulic lines within the visible parts of the main landing gear well, as well as the rather oversimplified external textures seen in the leaked footage pre-official the unveiling appear to suggest a mock up rather than a functioning aircraft. Without higher resolution images it is difficult to be certain. Is the Checkmate at MAKS a mock-up or aircraft?
We caught up with Justin Bronk (Research Fellow at the RUSI think-tank and Editor of RUSI Defence Systems) to find out more R ussia reveals what is described as a prototype of a new fighter aircraft at the MAKS 21 airshow.
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