PATRIOT PARK /Moscow Region/, August 16. /TASS/. Russia is in talks with a number of partners about cooperation on its fifth-generation fighter jets, SU-57E and Checkmate, including their joint development and production, Rosoboronexport’s head Alexander Mikheyev told TASS on the sidelines of the Army-2023 forum.

"According to feedback from foreign specialists and experts, the multi-purpose super-maneuverable Su-35 figther jet is the best aircraft among the fourth and 4++ generation fighters. It occupies a rightful place in Rosoboronexport’s portfolio of orders. Cooperation on SU-57E and Checkmate fifth-generation fighter jets is now being discussed with a number of Russia’s partners, including in the format of joint development and production," the official said.

Russia’s state tech corporation Rostec unveiled the latest domestic single-engine fighter dubbed Checkmate at the MAKS-2021 international air show in the suburban town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow. The new plane created by Rostec at its own initiative, is a derivative of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter. The cutting-edge fighter’s foreign rollout was held at the Dubai Airshow 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. A pilot batch of Checkmate fighter jets is expected to be produced in 2026.

The Checkmate incorporates the latest systems, including its open architecture configuration to meet the customer’s requirements and unique artificial intelligence technologies.

The new single-engine fighter is based on stealth technology and is outfitted with an inboard compartment for airborne air-to-air and air-to-surface armaments. The fighter will carry a payload of over seven tons and will be capable of striking up to six targets at a time. The Checkmate fighter will be 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 Army-2023 International Military-Technical Forum is being held at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center, the Alabino training ground and the Kubinka airfield outside Moscow on August 14-20. Over 60 countries have confirmed the participation of their official military delegations in the forum. The event brings together around 1,500 leading Russian defense enterprises, as well as 85 foreign companies and organizations from seven countries. The event was organized by the Russian Defense Ministry. TASS is the event’s strategic media partner.