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Interview of the chief designer of the aircraft LTS Mikhail Strelets
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July 21st, 0:21
TASS news agency under the heading " Checkmate". Designer Strelets: the new fighter will surpass all world analogues " published an interview with Mikhail Strelets, First Deputy Managing Director - Director of the Sukhoi Design Bureau and Chief Designer of a promising Russian light single-engine fighter of the fifth generation under the LTS program (" Light Tactical Aircraft ") Mikhail Strelets. Official presentation of the LTS aircraft under the commercial name Checkmate took place on the first day of the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky on July 20, 2021.
On the first day of the MAKS-2021 air show, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the Rostec state corporation) held a presentation of a new light tactical aircraft (LTS). The single-engine fighter was named Checkmate (translated from English - "Checkmate"). According to the announced information, the newest combat aircraft includes all the most advanced developments, including an open architecture of construction in the interests of the customer and unique artificial intelligence technologies.
First Deputy Managing Director - Director of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, Chief Designer of LTS Mikhail Strelets in an exclusive interview with TASSon the sidelines of the air show in Zhukovsky, he spoke about the advantages of the latest Russian fighter over foreign counterparts, the role of artificial intelligence in the operation of the aircraft, and also about when Checkmate will make its first flight.
- Mikhail Yurievich, what are the main features of LTS Checkmate?
- LTS Checkmate is a new light tactical fighter that we are developing on our own initiative. The main features of the project are a unique combination of flight performance, combat capabilities, low visibility and cost of a flight hour. The aircraft is a versatile, adaptive platform with an open architecture. It can be made in several configurations in accordance with the wishes of the customer.
LTS Checkmate has characteristics that are unique for its class. For example, it has the largest flight range for "light" aircraft and the duration of loitering when searching for a target or waiting for target designation, the highest carrying capacity, as well as the best characteristics of onboard equipment. Today we will be able to offer practically any modern system of onboard equipment to the aviation market.
The new aircraft is equipped with an ergonomic cockpit equipped with advanced electronic equipment with elements of artificial intelligence. This allows you to significantly reduce the workload on the pilot and focus on the destruction of ground and air targets.
In addition, LTS Checkmate has the lowest cost on the market relative to aircraft of similar functionality. In terms of its technical characteristics, it must surpass all existing analogues.
- Is the new aircraft an upgrade or a project from scratch?
- LTS Checkmate was designed using the scientific and technical groundwork obtained during the creation of the fifth generation Su-57 combat vehicle and with the widespread use of supercomputer technologies. In fact, it is the first Russian aircraft to be fully digitally calculated. This significantly reduced development time and technical risks during testing.
At the same time, proven technical solutions are incorporated into the machine and a high potential for modernization is provided. Together with our existing aircraft, this will allow us to quickly create a flexible combat aviation system of the future and to respond most efficiently and adaptively to emerging threats.
- When will the first flight of the new aircraft take place?
- The aviation complex has been designed, its characteristics have been confirmed by a full range of virtual tests, and strength static tests will soon be carried out. The first flight of the LTS Checkmate is scheduled for 2023.
- Tell us about the after-sales service of this machine.
- Reliability, convenience and ease of maintenance are one of the most important qualities of modern aviation complexes. The aircraft is designed in such a way as to simplify personnel access to systems as much as possible without special aerodrome equipment. The fighter is equipped with an integrated auxiliary power unit.
Also, thanks to the artificial intelligence of the cockpit, pre-flight control no longer requires a human presence. These solutions will make it possible to prepare a combat vehicle for launch in a short time, even in the absence of special means, which, in turn, will affect the combat survivability of the entire fleet.
The LTS Checkmate is a truly easy-to-maintain aircraft. A new automated logistics support system Matreshka has been created for the fighter. Using the latest predictive analytics methods, the system will track the technical condition of the aircraft in real time throughout the entire life cycle. This will make it possible to plan preventive and repair work, significantly reduce costs and increase the efficiency of after-sales services.
- Tell us more about the pilot's intelligent support system.
- We follow modern trends, and today the cockpit has an intellectual support for the crew, which forms hints to the pilot for the most effective actions in air combat, including in difficult situations.
LTS Checkmate is equipped with artificial intelligence, acting as a "co-pilot". He will independently carry out diagnostics of all aircraft systems and help the pilot in a rapidly changing combat situation. The commander concentrates on issuing instructions, the machine performs all operations automatically.
In addition, the cockpit of the fighter is equipped with unique panoramic touch screens that reflect the status of all systems, as well as provide comprehensive information about the route, targets and threats.
- What is unique about the airborne equipment complex (OBE) of the aircraft?
- OBE of the fifth generation, installed on LTS Checkmate, is a separate pride of the developers, it is a modern platform with a reserve for the future. It includes a wide-range all-aspect review system that will instantly alert the pilot of threats.
The complex allows you to exchange information with other combat units. OBE has high characteristics of noise immunity. The aircraft is equipped with an integrated electronic countermeasures and defense complex, which will not allow the enemy to detect themselves and use weapons.
—What kind of cargo can Checkmate LTS carry?
- The LTS Checkmate has the most capacious internal armament compartment among the aircraft of its class, which allows the use of a wide range of aircraft weapons (AAS) in an inconspicuous fighter configuration. In addition to classic missiles and bombs, it is possible to install additional fuel tanks, suspended cannon containers, as well as other cargo for various purposes in the compartments. Thanks to the spacious compartments and the presence of external suspension points, the aircraft has a record-breaking payload for this class - 7400 kg.
- What ensures the low cost of a flight hour in comparison with other aircrafts?
- The low cost of a flight hour is made possible by perfect aerodynamics, modern engine and on-board equipment, as well as minimization of aircraft maintenance costs. Compared to its main competitor - the F-35 - LTS Checkmate will receive seven times less cost of a flight hour.
- How many goals can simultaneously track and attack LTS Checkmate?
- aircraft equipment with built-in radar AFAR (active phased array antenna) is able to attack the six and track up to 30 air targets. If we talk about land and sea, then LTS can accompany two targets at the same time.
- Is it possible to install imported equipment on board the Checkmate LTS?
- The aircraft is designed with an open architecture, therefore, if the customer wishes, it is possible to install modern foreign-made onboard equipment on the Checkmate LTS. The adaptability of the aviation platform allows the fighter to be configured in such a way that it fully meets the customer's tasks.
- In what options can an aircraft be created?
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In accordance with the wishes of the customer, the new fighter can be in two-seat, optionally piloted and unmanned versions. LTS Checkmate was conceived as a platform with modular modification potential. This is realized by replacing the fuselage head and adapting systems at the factory.
- Do you plan to jointly use Checkmate LTS with unmanned aerial vehicles?
- Both the manned versions of the Checkmate LTS and its unmanned modifications are capable of operating in a network-centric combat system, that is, working as part of a group of manned and unmanned aircraft. We plan to carry out such tests.
Milena Sineva, Roman Azanov Official presentation at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2021 in Zhukovsky of the first experimental prototype (so far non-flying) Russian promising light single-engine fighter of the fifth generation under the commercial name Checkmate, developed by PJSC Sukhoi Company (as part of JSC United Aircraft Corporation) under the LTS program (Light tactical aircraft), 20.07.2021 (c) Roman Azanov, Sergey Karpukhin and Sergey Fadeichev / TASS