Rostec to start serial production of Checkmate fighters

Russia to start serial production of the fifth-generation light fighter Checkmate in 2027, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov said Wednesday at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Work is in progress on the designer documentation for the light fighter jet Checkmate. Its serial production will begin in 2027, Rostec corporation’s CEO Sergey Chemezov said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

“We have plans for starting serial production in 2027,” he said.

So far, a prototype has been created and designer documentation is being developed.

“We borrowed the onboard equipment and the engine from the fifth-generation fighter Sukhoi-57, but reconfigured them somewhat,” Chemezov said, adding that Rostec was creating the plane on its own money without drawing budget funds.

He hopes that the Defense Ministry will agree to purchase the plane.

Sergey Chemezov also presented the Company’s 2021 annual report to Russian President Vladimir Putin. One of the key achievements of the Corporation is a 9.9% increase in its consolidated revenue, which amounted to 2.06 trillion rubles in 2021, and an increase in the share of civilian products in its sales mix, which amounted to 45.5%.