Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate Stealth Fighter Is Headed for a ‘Crash Landing’

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Key Points: Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate stealth fighter struggles to find a market, overshadowed by the Su-57 Felon. Initially marketed as a cost-effective fifth-generation alternative to Western fighters, the Su-75 has yet to secure foreign sales.

-Despite flashy promotions, including cologne giveaways, and promises of advanced specs like a MACH 1.8 speed and stealth capabilities, development is slow.

-Potential buyers, like India and nations in Africa and the Middle East, remain hesitant. Sanctions and limited high-tech components further hinder progress.

-With no concrete contracts and comparisons to proven jets like the F-35 and F-22 falling short, the Su-75 risks becoming a failed project.

Russia’s Su-75 Stealth Fighter Has No Concrete Foreign Sales

The Su-75 Checkmate fighter is one of those Russian airplanes that calls out “me too” in order not to be lost in the shuffle with the development of the Su-57 Felon fighter that gets more positive news coverage.

 The whole idea behind the stealth Su-75 is that it was supposed to be a big hit on the export market. That is starting to happen as India has shown some interest. Moreover, the Su-75 is assumed to be “near its final development stage,” according to Russian state-run media.

It Is No Su-57

That may be true, but the Su-75 is still playing second fiddle to its more mature brother airplane – the Su-57 Felon. 

After all, the Su-57 Felon wowed audiences during an air show flight in China last month. YouTube video influencers were excited, saying that the Felon “stole the show” and that it was “stunning” during the impressive test flight.

The Checkmate Cologne Ploy

That leaves the little old Checkmate gasping for air even though it has enjoyed a slick marketing campaign from the Russian defense industrial base. In 2022, the Russians gave away Su-75 cologne at a military expo in Dubai to help drum up interest in the airplane for foreign buyers. 

This left some to chuckle that no fragrance could hide the airplane’s slow development. And you can insert your joke about the aircraft being nicknamed “Checkmate.” 

Remember when people thought Vladimir Putin was playing 4D chess while everyone else was playing checkers? Putin is the one who is getting checkmated now in Ukraine.

However, the Su-75 is further along than it was two years ago when those fragrance bottles were passed around.

Defense Contractors Have High Hopes for the Su-75

A representative from the defense firm that manufactures the Su-75 is optimistic. Sergei Korotkov, a senior UAC executive, had this to say. 

“The development of the fifth-generation Su-75 Checkmate light tactical fighter has reached a sufficient stage of readiness, allowing further progress in the program to be seen as promising. The future of this aircraft can be viewed with optimism,” Korotkov, the chief designer and deputy director of UAC, told the Russian state-run news outlet RIA Novosti. 

It Could Be a Hit in the Developing World

Potential foreign buyers are paying attention to the Checkmate. India is kicking the tires and considering a purchase. Plus, militaries from developing nations in the Middle East and in Africa are showing interest. 

These are usually countries that can’t afford an F-35 or who are on the international sanctions naughty list. Russia, of course, would love to have governments unfriendly to the United States order a fleet of Su-75s to stick Washington, DC, in the eye, but they would still settle for a U.S. ally like India making a big purchase.

The Specs Aren’t Bad If They Can Be Believed

The Checkmate is supposed to be highly stealthy with what may become a two-seater and an unmanned version. Depending on foreign interests, Russian defense contractors could begin making it in 2026. 

It is a fifth-generation multi-role interceptor with an excellent speed of MACH 1.8. The range is nearly 1,900 miles, and the top altitude is 54,100 feet. Russia believes it is like the F-22 in the diversity of armaments it can carry, plus the performance specs should make it superior to the F-22 and F-35. 

The Russians can only dream. They must have something to compare it to for marketing purposes, but the Checkmate will not be as good as the American stealth warplanes. One aspect of the Su-75 that is promising is the price. It’s only $30 to $35 million per airplane. That is a bargain for stealth fighters.

The Su-75 Fighter Flop 

Despite the affordability, you can tell I am cynical about the Su-75. I’m not usually sarcastic, but this airplane may just be vaporware. The Su-57 has flown during a public air show and impressed with its derring-do. But the Checkmate must depend on fickle foreign buyers, and it has yet to catch on. It would need at least three to five contracts to advance the program. And so far, that interest has not materialized.

Russia assumes that the Su-75 foreign buyers will multiply like they have with the F-35. This makes the Russian air force wish for the geopolitical situation during the Cold War when Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact nations would take anything Moscow had to offer regarding weapons systems. 

Those days are long gone. Plus, Russia has undergone international sanctions that have delayed the Su-75’s development. Without many high-end components, the Russian defense industry may be stymied when making the Checkmate in numbers.

I’ll be more convinced when the Russians finally announce a signed contract for the sale of the Su-75. Optimism about marketing and advertising is inherent in all arms deals. It’s just foreign governments are not buying what the Russians are selling.

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.