Summary and Key Points: Russia's Su-75 Checkmate stealth fighter jet, still under development, faces skepticism about its future amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict and crippling sanctions.

-Designed to rival the U.S. F-35 Lightning II and China's Shenyang FC-31, the Su-75 is touted as a cost-effective fifth-generation fighter.

-Despite its promising design, production delays and a lack of international interest cast doubt on its viability. The conflict's impact on Russia's resources and the rising prominence of unmanned aerial vehicles further complicate the Checkmate's prospects.

Russia's Su-75 Checkmate: Ambitious Stealth Fighter Faces Uncertain Future

The Kremlin continues to boast about the capabilities of its Su-75 stealth fighter jet, which is still under development. But some analysts wonder whether this aircraft will ever actually get off the ground. 

Moscow’s available resources, manufacturing capabilities, and financial freedom have taken a severe hit amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Crippling sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its NATO allies, coupled with Ukraine’s targeting of Russian forces and their equipment, leave the Kremlin with smaller arsenals of most of their weapons systems. 

Despite these struggles, Russia is pushing out the propaganda surrounding its fifth-generation Su-75 Checkmate fighter. Production delays and limited foreign interest, however, speak louder than Moscow’s words. 

What We Know About the Su-75 Checkmate

Designed to compete with the American F-35 Lightning II and the Chinese Shenyang FC-31, the Su-75 on paper is a sensational platform-to-be. Even with its attributes, according to Russian state media the fighter is expected to cost roughly $25 million to $30 million, only one-third the cost of the Lightning II.

The lightweight fifth-generation jet was first unveiled at the 2021 MAKS air show, and the aircraft was meant to take its maiden flight in 2023. The Checkmate is now scheduled to fly in 2025 at the earliest.  

The Checkmate’s interior design largely mirrors the Su-57. Its layout is relatively typical for a fifth-generation platform, equipped with internal weapons bays, supersonic inlets, and radar-absorbent coating designed to minimize its radar cross section. 

Its five internal weapons bays will be capable of carrying guided and unguided weapons including the RVV-MD short-range missile and the RVV-SD long-range missile. In terms of avionics, the Su-75 carries an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar and an open architecture code. The aircraft is powered by a single NPO Saturn AL-51F engine, bringing the jet to a maximum speed of Mach 1.8.

No International Buyers?

The Checkmate has struggled to attract international interest. Foreign clients recognize that the jet is a low-end fifth-generation fighter designed to be affordable enough for easy export. 

The United Arab Emirates initially expressed interest in the Su-75, but the UAE backed out after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Other possible buyers include India, Turkmenistan, Iran, Algeria, and Nigeria. However, the likelihood of any deals being made amid Russia’s war remains low. 

The growing role of unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the globe is also hurting the Checkmate’s sales prospects. As explained by the Rand Institute: “In developing countries, the market may be undermined by the dramatic success of armed drones in several conflicts. For example, Turkey destroyed Russian air defense systems and ground combat vehicles in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh with precision guided missiles on Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles. The nature of warfare is changing and armed drones cost a fraction of the price of manned aircraft.” The Checkmate might indeed cost a third as much as the F-35 – but lethal drones can be procured at a mere fraction of the cost. 

About the Author: Defense Expert Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

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