Press space
A static non-flying prototype was unveiled at the 2021 MAKS air show with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in attendance. The Checkmate's maiden flight was first scheduled for 2023 and then slipped to 2024 but then it got delayed to 2025,[5] with initial deliveries planned for 2026–2027.[6][7][8][9] The Checkmate is designed to be low cost and for export,[10] and may compete with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and Shenyang FC-31 aircraft of the same light to medium-weight category.[11][12][13] Production is forecast to be 300 planes over 15 years.[14][15]
