A very short, but enlightening video appeared on the social networks, showing the future Russian fighter, Checkmate, totally exposed. This new leak appears to be legitimate, and not part of Rostec’s ad campaign.
Sukhoi LTS "CheckMate"
(Video via T. Me/istorijaoruzija) pic.twitter.com/5KWhVWSfU7— 彩云香江 (@louischeung_hk) July 18, 2021
According to rumors, the video would have been filmed by one of the technicians hired for the facilities where the Checkmate presentation show will take place.
Neither slow nor lazy, Rostec published an image of the video on its Twitter account, in order not to lose control of the advertising campaign (which has been going very well so far) and promised more news for midnight.
Wait for more details at midnight ⚡
On our YouTube-channel ????????https://t.co/x55tjPeiuV
Or on the YouTube-channel of United Aircraft Corporation, аnd the page of the project https://t.co/mPWIBOLOAx pic.twitter.com/IabCRBDGbq
— Rostec Сorporation (@Rostec_Russia) July 18, 2021
A few days ago it also showed this image, in which it suggests that the Checkmate will come equipped with an EOTS type equipment, similar to the one that is mounted on the F-35 or J-20. These optronic systems allow the detection, monitoring and identification of land, naval and air targets at great distances, in a totally passive way. Likewise, it also comes equipped with a laser to enable the guidance of intelligent weapons.
The new images allow to verify several of the assumptions that were formulated from the photos of the plane covered with the dark covers.
It is a single-engine fighter with stealth characteristics, whose air intake is located under the cockpit. It does not have horizontal stabilizers and the vertical ones are inclined in a V shape.
A big reveal from the latest leak is that we can see the existence and arrangement of the side weapon holds. They will most likely be used to harbor and fire the short-range air-to-air missiles of the Vympel R-73/74 family, as well as future developments.
It remains to be seen if the Checkmate will have a third, larger fuselage weapon bay to harbor bulky surface attack weapons. But the solution they found for self-defense missiles seems pretty ingenious and sensible to me.
And now, published just minutes ago by ROSTEC, the new trailer:
