What You Need to Know: Russia is marketing its Su-75 “Checkmate” stealth fighter to India, offering exclusive rights for indigenous production, potentially sidelining Western defense contractors in India’s MRCA competition. The Su-75, touted as a cost-effective alternative to U.S. stealth fighters, promises advanced avionics and AI, and a $30-35 million price tag.

-This possible deal deepens Moscow-New Delhi ties, crucial for Russia’s economy amidst sanctions and bolsters India’s strategic capabilities. India’s decision is not without caution, mindful of U.S. pressures and its independent foreign policy.

-Russia’s strategic maneuver secures influence in Asia, while India gains potential export revenue and a stronger defense position.

Here Comes the Su-75 Checkmate For India? Maybe So. 

Russia has been in the news due to its invasion of Ukraine, but now Moscow has its sights set on a new target: India. Yes, you read that right. Russia is preparing to invade India. But not with an army. Instead, Russia is engaged in what it is referring to as a “marketing invasion” of India. And the product Russia is selling to New Delhi is the Sukhoi Design Bureau’s Su-75 “Checkmate.”

Next year, Sukhoi will have a primary position at the Aero India 2025 exhibition. According to multiple sources, Sukhoi has offered India exclusive rights to indigenously produce the Su-75. India, a rising and dynamic great power, will then be able to sell its variant of the Russian Su-75 to other countries. In essence, Russia is empowering India’s defense industry—even at the expense of Russia’s other friend “with no limits,” China. 

What is the Su-75?

The Su-75 is supposed to be Russia’s answer to America’s stealth fighter superiority. Sukhoi claims that the Checkmate is the more affordable version of the Western stealth technology. Indeed, the Su-75 is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter. Its proponents claim the bird has a top speed of around Mach 1.8, with a range of 1,864 miles as well as an operational ceiling of 54,100 feet. These birds can carry up to 7.4 tons of armaments which are a mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. The weapons themselves are kept in internal bays (similar to the American F-22A Raptor) to increase the jet’s stealth capabilities.

Further, Russian sources claim that the Su-75 has artificial intelligence (AI) enhancements for the pilot, advanced avionics, and a technology suite that includes sophisticated network-centric warfare capabilities. Unlike the American F-22A Raptor (which is not available for export) or the F-35 Lighting II (which is for sale), the Su-75 Checkmate apparently is far more affordable. Sukhoi insists that these birds will cost only between $30 million and $35 million.

The F-35, by comparison, costs between $82.5 million per plant and $102.1 million (depending on which variant one wants).

Proceed with caution

For its part, India’s Air Marshal Anil Khosla told domestic audiences at the start of the year to be cautious before making a decision about the Su-75 offer. That’s because India, since its independence in 1947, jealously guards its sovereignty. It does not want to be seen as becoming a proxy for any great power. At the same time, India has since the 1940s enjoyed a close relationship with the Russians that has included the sharing of military technology. Moscow values this long-term relationship.

Indeed, in the 1990s, Russia’s foreign policy guru, Yevgeny Primakov, advised Russia’s political leadership—including Vladimir Putin—to keep India as a strategic partner (citing India as a primary component of “strategic triangles” that Russia needed to maintain to keep its global power after the collapse of the Soviet Union). Putin has taken that advice to heart. And the Indians, despite their desire to move closer to the United States (because of China’s growing threat to India), have maintained that close relationship.

In fact, the Biden administration sought to punish India for continuing to trade and have stable diplomatic relations with Russia in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This short-sighted decision by Washington has complicated what was once very promising new relations with New Delhi, especially in terms of India being used as a counterweight against Beijing. While India has modulated its relations with Russia, it will never abandon those ties. And the Russians know it. So, now Moscow is attempting to induce New Delhi further with the promise of significant technology transfer in the form of the Su-75.

Russia is moving skillfully

This is a skillful move by Russia, which knows its arms exports, along with its commodities, are one of the few things preventing Moscow from being successfully economically blockaded by the pro-Ukraine West.

At a time when New Delhi was starting to look to Western nations for arms exports, such as with India’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) competition, the introduction of the Su-75 deal could scuttle the opportunity for Western defense firms, such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Saab, or the Eurofighter consortium (who are all competing to win that potential contract for up to 114 Indian fighters).

Russia is deftly playing its hand to ensure it remains a vital player in Eurasia, even in the face of increasing Western sanctions—which it has thus far managed to endure. The Su-75 deal will ensure that Moscow continues to survive and that its war machine is funded.

In return, India gets a new product that will both enhance its own strategic position in the region and allow for New Delhi to, in turn, sell the excess capacity to other nations. It’s a win-win for India and Russia. And a major loss for the West. Again. But will it happen? We will see. 

About the Author: 

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is available for purchase wherever books are sold. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

Image Credit: Creative Commons.