DUBAI, November 14. /TASS/. Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport (part of Rostec state corporation) sees chances for cooperation with foreign partners in the development of unmanned and two-seat modifications of the Checkmate light tactical airplane, Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev has said.

"There are plans for creating unmanned and two-seat configurations of Checkmate. We mention this possibility to foreign partners during consultations on cooperation in this area. We can state there is steady interest in both the unmanned and two-seat modifications of the airplane," Mikheyev told TASS at the Dubai Airshow 2023.

Checkmate profile

The Checkmate light tactical airplane developed by Sukhoi (an affiliate of the United Aircraft Corporation) was first presented at the MAKS-2021 air show. The first presentation of the fighter aircraft outside Russia took place at the Dubai Airshow 2021 in the UAE.

Checkmate boasts cutting-edge achievements, including customized open architecture meeting the client’s requirements and unique artificial intelligence features. The stealth aircraft is is equipped with an intra-fuselage compartment for air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.

The payload exceeds seven tons. The fighter is capable of engaging up to six targets simultaneously. The single-engine aircraft will have a speed of Mach 1.8 and a combat radius of 3,000 kilometers.