In the last couple of years, the Su-75 “Checkmate” has been the subject of much speculation amongst the military aviation press. Reported as a low-cost, fifth-generation fighter providing only a quarter of the capabilities of its Western rivals but at a significantly lower price, it made headlines with its first appearance at the MAKS-2021 Air Show and also with its “on-the-go” sightings at other international fairs such as the Dubai Airshow. It comes in a simple package: a single-seat, cheap fighter jet of about $30 million for countries that cannot or will not buy an F-35.
On paper, the Checkmate is every cost-conscious air force’s dream. It supposedly boasts a Mach 1.8 top speed, a 1,900-mile mission range, and an internal bomb bay capacity of up to 7.4 tons—a variant in stealth fighters such as the F-22. The aircraft supposedly comes with advanced avionics, network-centric warfighting capabilities, and even artificial intelligence to aid under high-stress pilots.
Checkmate designs are ominous. Single-seat, two-seat, and unmanned versions are all on display, with a generic modular layout that would enable adaptation for specialty applications. United Aircraft Corporation chief designer Sergey Korotkov has already called the project “promising,” and reported ground testing, flight testing, and preparation for production underway.
The question, of course, is how stealthy. Although widely described as a fifth-generation fighter, not a lot of it is really radar-evading. True stealth requires more than cocking the airframe or installing hidden weapons bays; it requires accurate manufacture, special paint, and very close tolerances—all very expensive.
Experts predict that the Checkmate will have to forgo some stealth capabilities to save costs. The aircraft has been characterized by Russian officials as being most effective in regions distant from well-protected areas, and as a result, it won’t be as low-observable as US competitors. Such trade-offs are inevitable on an airplane, costing less, but do mean that it will have a better chance of being picked up by radar than touted.
The road to production has been bumpy. Money has been diverted to other military programs, and sanctions have prevented it from buying parts and raising capital. Originally set to take to the skies for the first time in 2023, recent estimates have it no sooner than 2025. Far from being “advanced development,” the jet remains an experimental aircraft with no firm orders to make it.
Russia’s marketing approach to the Checkmate is aggressive. It will be promoted as being less expensive compared to Western jets, and interested buyers are likely to come from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. India and Nigeria were cited in stories in the media as being among those who are interested, and offers of joint development or technology transfer to make sales possible were proposed.
To date, nevertheless, no sale has been finalized. Authorities indicate that a number of potential buyers have approached with offers, but that none have worked out, seemingly on grounds of political, logistical, or financial reasons.
Russia went as far as to make clever merchandising, selling scented, brand-name cologne at air shows. The toughest task, though, is making a cleverly conceived idea into an entire, export-quality fighter plane. It will be a question of whether Russia’s aviation industry can be rebooted, secure funding, and establish the alliances needed to build the aircraft.
If Checkmate does materialise, it may fill a gap between nations requiring new capability at relatively modest expense. But driven too far into the future, costs go up, and technical issues arise, it will be added to the long list of headline programmes on the drawing board.
For the moment, though, the Su-75 is a tease for what is to be and a bow to the realities of bringing next-generation fighter jets into the world—a high-wire balancing act on a tightrope between aspirational soaring and the unvarnished, hard-nosed, brutal realities of taking blueprints to the skies.