Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate Stealth Fighter Is in Sad Shape

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Key Points: Russia’s Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate is being touted as a low-cost, fifth-generation stealth fighter aimed at international buyers unable to afford the F-35.

-With a projected price of $30 million, the Su-75 could appeal to nations restricted from U.S. arms sales. While promising stealth and multi-role capabilities, the program faces challenges, including sanctions, lack of international buyers, and an underperforming defense industry.

-If successfully developed and produced, the Checkmate could strengthen Russia’s aerospace sector and geopolitical influence.

-However, the program remains speculative, with no first flight until 2025 and questions surrounding its feasibility and funding.

Russia Has Grand Master Plans for the Su-75 Checkmate:

Is Russia’s new Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate advanced fighter a bargain compared to other fifth-generation warbirds?

Russia is not known for coming in on time and under budget for any weapons program, but the Su-75 Checkmate could be different.

The Russian Air Force expects to export it for only $30 million a jet. That still sounds like a lot, but it is certainly cheaper than other next-generation stealth fighters.

Could Russia sell a sort of cheap ‘F-35’?

Su-75 Checkmate: It Could Be a Bargain for International Buyers

For example, America’s F-22 program cost an eye watering $67 billion over its life-cycle. That works out to $350 million a fighter. An F-16 Viper costs about $63 million each.

So, it would be a coup if the Russians could tighten the cost of the Su-75 to beat those price tags.

Still, the Checkmate is in its early stages and could see a schedule slip and cost over-run, but if delivered as advertised, it would be a feather in the cap to the Kremlin even though its defense industry is currently struggling due to sanctions and extreme losses on the battlefield in Ukraine.

More on the Su-75’s Attributes

The Su-75 is supposed to be stealthy, although the level of radar evasion capability is not known.

It should have more stealth attributes than older airplanes in the fleet. Russia wants to eventually produce 300 Su-75 fighters in the coming years – certainly an ambitious number – but if achieved could alleviate many worries about the ability of Russian defense contractors.

The Su-75 is a single-seater with a Saturn AL-51F-1 engine that can push out Mach 1.8 with a range of 1,900 miles. However, many specs are unknown because this fighter may still be in development stage and is only appearing at air shows as a mockup.

The first flight won’t happen until at least 2025. It is a light tactical fighter with five internal weapons bays for various unguided and guided munitions, hopefully, some of Russia’s best air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles.

Russia believes it could someday employ a “loyal wingman” concept consisting of a tethering to an unmanned fighter or bomber.

It is Going to Take Customers Outside of Russia

To fund this project so an actual fighter can get off the ground, Sukhoi depends on foreign buyers who would normally purchase an F-35 but are otherwise unable to due to cost, sanctions, or bans. The UAE was seen as a significant customer but has ducked out of the purchase due to Russia’s unpopularity in the international community.

But the war will eventually end if Donald J. Trump and running mate J.D. Vance have their way. This could allow Russia to find buyers at that low-end price tag with a rejuvenated aerospace sector after the conflict in Ukraine comes to a halt. The key will be the re-emergence of the Russian industrial base to produce the Su-75 in numbers and get it beyond its gimmicky appearances in air shows. 

But what if the Su-75 achieves at least 100 units? This would stimulate the Russian economy if an international partner were found and Checkmates became ubiquitous at $30 million each. Even double that price at $60 million is a bargain compared to fifth-generation American fighters. The cheaper price would potentially send jets with stealth attributes to rogue countries like Iran and even China.

Russia is forming a geopolitical axis with U.S. adversaries and Moscow could also enter into a period in which it executes “fighter plane diplomacy.” This gambit is what the United States has conducted with the F-35: sell it to allies and achieve a closer working relationship with its friends to isolate and overawe enemies in the air. 

Marketing Gimmicks May Not Be Enough

This assumes that the Checkmate will make it off the drawing board.

It will take more than cologne to impress buyers. I’m talking about some of the strange marketing plans that Russia has used for the Su-75. In the past, they gave away a bottle of Checkmate fragrance to attendees at air shows. 

Indeed, the Su-75 program could be a hit or a massive failure due to the war in Ukraine and the lack of buyers. The price is right if the Russian aerospace industry can deliver. It could be a fifth-generation airplane with notable specifications. I don’t see it advancing to flying status unless the war can be wrapped up in the next 12 months. But the Kremlin should be credited for developing such a fighter at a quality price if it ever becomes a reality.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.