the Checkmate aircraft<\/a> \u2014 giving it a range of up to 6,000 kilometers, Pukhov added. But he expressed caution about the drone\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOne has to wait and see,\u201d the think tanker said. \u201cWill it turn into a flying robot that will be able to fly long distances and to perform combat operations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recalled the fate of the heavy Skat drone, whose prototype was produced by UAC subsidiary Russian Aircraft Corporation (commonly known as MiG) in 2007 using stealth technology. But in 2012, work on the project stopped due to a lack of interest from the Defence Ministry. The effort resumed in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those thoughts were echoed by retired Col. Mikhail Khodoryonok, a senior military analyst for local news site Gazeta.Ru, who told Defense News that the drone \u201chas to prove itself in a combat mission,\u201d possibly in Syria. Khodaryonok also has his doubts about Skat\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n