Only a few details of Russia’s newly revealed next-generation, single-engine fighter dubbed “Checkmate”,0r Su-75, have been made public, but on Monday, it was announced that the still-in-development combat aircraft will receive the latest avionics suite. It will offer situational awareness for pilots via a panoramic heads-up display with a touch screen.
The onboard avionics suite was developed by the Ramenki Instrument-Making Design Bureau, which operates under KRET. According to a report from Tass, it includes an advanced large-format heads-up display, a panoramic airborne display, and a multi-functional display panel. The Avionics are even reported to be on par with the avionics suite in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II’s.
“These instruments are used as the basis for developing and testing items for the latest domestic Su-57 and MiG-35D combat planes and prototypes for the Checkmate light tactical fighter that was unveiled at the MAKS-2021 air show,” said Vladimir Mikheyev, advisor to the first deputy CEO of the Radio-Electronic Technologies Group, which is part of the Russian tech conglomerate Rostec. “These innovations are the next step in developing Russian avionics and are no inferior to similar devices installed on U.S. F-35 aircraft.”
Heads-up Display
Situational awareness is greatly enhanced via the 25-inch panoramic display that provides data on the aircraft’s systems and armaments, as well as the course and position along the flight path. The high-resolution display also enables it to project any high-quality graphic images.
“The data on the targets and on missile weapons that are appropriate for utilization in a particular situation are projected on to the windshield,” Mikheyev noted.
Additionally, the multi-functional color display panel is equipped with a touch screen, which is designed to project information but also to allow the pilot to enter any required command data into the onboard radio-electronic equipment.
Check and Mate
The single-engine fighter was unveiled by Sergey Chemezov, head of Rostec, and Yury Slyusar, general director of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), at last week’s MAKS-2021 international air show outside of Moscow. Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin was in attendance for the Checkmate’s official unveiling to the world.
The aircraft is a derivative of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter and features stealth technology as well as an inboard compartment for airborne air-to-air and air-to-surface armaments. The fighter can also carry a payload of more than seven tonnes and will be capable of striking up to six targets at a time.
According to Rostec, the Checkmate fighter is capable of flying at Mach 1.8 – 1.8 times the speed of sound – and will have an operating range of 3,000 km. The next-generation fighter will also be outfitted with a highly efficient powerplant. Rostec has said that the aircraft would be hard to detect and would have a low operating cost.
Chemezov has said the aircraft would cost $25 million to $30 million. The combat aircraft is expected to take to the skies in 2023, while Rostec announced plans to launch the combat plane’s serial production beginning in 2026. Moscow is expected to export the aircraft and reportedly there is also demand from nations in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He regularly writes about military small arms, and is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.