Russian designers of Su-75 Checkmate fighter take into account Lockheed F-117A weaknesses

: Posted On Monday, 28 March 2022 09:44

MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS-DEFENSE/. The developers of Russia’s advanced Checkmate single-engine fighter have taken into account and corrected the weaknesses of the United States’ stealth aircraft Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, according to the text of a patent (obtained by TASS) published by the Federal Intellectual Property Service.

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Russian designers of Su 75 Checkmate fighter take into account Lockheed F 117A weaknesses 1 Su-57 Felon (left) and Su-75 Checkmate (right) (Picture source: Rostec)

The patent compares the Checkmate plane with its US rival Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, which has a low radar signature. “This aircraft has a number of flaws, such as poor takeoff and landing characteristics, as well as insufficient stability and controllability in flight,” the patent reads. The Checkmate developers’ task was to eliminate the imperfections of other known aircraft of this class. “The invention’s technical result was the achievement of the aircraft’s better stability and controllability without decreasing its radar stealth parameters,” the document reads.

About F-117 and Checkmate planes

The F-117 is a US single-seat subsonic tactical stealth strike aircraft from Lockheed Martin. It was intended to covertly penetrate adversary air defenses and attack strategically important ground targets. It performed its maiden flight on June 18, 1981. A total of 64 planes were built. The last serial plane was delivered to the US Air Force in 1990. The plane participated in five armed conflicts. In 2008, all aircraft of this type were withdrawn from service for financial reasons. It successor is the F-22 Raptor. The F-117 has a low signature due to the specific angular shape of the hull, composite and radar-absorbing materials and special coating.

The Checkmate was for the first time presented to the public at the MAKS 2021 airshow. Its foreign debut took place at the Dubai Airshow 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. The Checkmate incorporates the latest technical solutions, open architecture, and unique artificial intelligence technologies. It is a stealth aircraft with an internal compartment for air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. The payload exceeds seven tons. The jet can destroy six targets at a time. It develops Mach 1.8 speed and has a combat radius of 3,000 km. The Checkmate’s maiden flight is scheduled for 2023. Its serial production is due to begin in 2025.

Checkmate may get engine with all-aspect vectorable jet nozzle

Checkmate single-engine fighter jet may get an engine with a vectorable jet nozzle that will considerably increase its maneuverability, according to the text of a patent (obtained by TASS) published by the Federal Intellectual Property Service. “The engine’s vectorable jet nozzle is placed along the symmetry axis of the fuselage and is used for control and trimming in flight. It can swivel only up and down and, in all directions”, the document says.
Earlier, Sukhoi Company designer Mikhail Nikitushkin said that the Checkmate single-engine fighter jet would be powered by a modified AL-41F1 engine (Product 117). The engine will be modified for the one-engine plane in terms of reliability.

Russian designers of Su 75 Checkmate fighter take into account Lockheed F 117A weaknesses 2 F-117A Nighthawk (Picture source: Wikipedia/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon II)