The Checkmate, Russia's Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft Capable Of Shooting Six Targets At Once

The Checkmate, a fifth-generation aircraft capable of rivaling the US F35. (photo: TASS)

JAKARTA - Russia on Tuesday, July 20 unveiled a new Sukhoi stealth fighter jet designed to compete with the US F-35. The advantage of this fighter is that it can attack six targets simultaneously.

When the plane, dubbed "The Checkmate", was first shown to President Vladimir Putin, the response was very positive. Putin said he was "pleased" to see the development of Russia's aerospace technology today.

The aircraft was launched at the biennial air show outside Moscow. According to reports, the plane, which has not been officially named, was produced in May last year. In the launch video, it is only mentioned that the aircraft will be developed "in no time".

Previously few details about the plane had emerged to the public., The plane was developed by defense and technology giant Rostec and the state-controlled United Aircraft Corporation.

"Our task is for this aircraft to be offered en masse to customers starting in 2026", said General Director of United Aircraft Corporation, Yury Slyusar.

Rostec describes the aircraft as a fifth-generation single-engine light fighter jet that incorporates "innovative solutions" including artificial intelligence.

"The jets can strike up to six targets simultaneously on land, air, or sea, even under conditions of strong electronic interference", the manufacturer said.

With a price tag of between 25-30 million US dollars (IDR 362 billion to IDR 434 billion), the aircraft will be able to carry drones and launch them during flight.

Slyusar said he expects nearly 300 orders in the next 15 years mainly from the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America at prices "seven times lower" than the F-35.

He said the planes were capable of destroying "fifth-generation foreign aircraft" and were "designed to withstand sixth-generation systems that may emerge in the coming decades".

This aircraft also has stealth technology which makes it very difficult to be caught by enemy radar. An auto-pilot version is also under development. Slyusar said he believed Putin was "delighted" when he saw the plane.

"Russian aviation has great potential for development, and our aircraft industry continues to create competitive new aircraft", Putin said.

Putin has made investing in the military and developing new weapons a priority over his two decades of administration.

Russia has stated that it is continuing to develop several weapons that evade current defense systems, including the Sarmat intercontinental missile and the Burevestnik cruise missile.