The Su-75 Checkmate, with all its advantages, was introduced as a single-engine, 5th-generation stealth fighter capable of top-level performance, but at a very small price compared to Western jets. Since its debut at the MAKS 2021, the aircraft has been seen as an attractive alternative to advanced technology, but not as expensive as the F-35 or Eurofighter Typhoon. However, as of mid-2025, the transition from idea to production has been quite bumpy, with delays mainly due to funding and changing geopolitics.
Checkmate honestly looks very good on paper with its light tactical stealth design as an interceptor with capabilities of reaching Mach 1.8, a combat radius of around 3,000 kilometers, and a payload of more than seven tons. The external weapons bay is able to carry a mix of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles that are more or less the same as in bigger fighters such as the Su-35 and Su-57.
The plane’s round, flowing design, and V-shaped tail are meant to reflect less of the radar, but for the complete combat effectiveness, the pilot will depend on the advanced avionics and AI systems for awareness, Sukhoi also stated that the creation of the supercomputer model-the first in Russia- allowed them to catch up with cost-saving and sped up the design process by a great margin Chekchmate is best known for its affordability as the main selling point.
Sukhoi marketed it as a cost-effective alternative for a clever air force that wishes to have stealth but could not afford the likes of the first-class top-notch fighters. At the beginning, each of these jets was estimated to cost $25–30 million, with operating costs of about $6,000 per flight hour. There were also plans to make three versions: a single-seat, a two-seat, and an unmanned which would have increased the scope of its potential by far.
But things have gone much more slowly than expected. The 1st flight has been delayed several times, from 2023 to 2025, and the large-scale production might not start before 2027. Meanwhile, the officials continue to tell the public that the progress is going as planned, their hard times coming from the political, economic, and technical aspects of the situation.
The war in Ukraine has affected Checkmate’s progress in two ways. A lighter, more affordable fighter could have been a good option to fill in the missing gaps caused by the conflict on the one hand, while on the other, a lot of resources, money, and the industrial sector have been mostly directed at the already existing platforms, such as the Su-35 and Su-34, leaving the programs such as the Su-75 unutilized.
Not only that, but foreign capital, which was expected to be the main factor in the rise of this project, has not appeared either. At first, the United Arab Emirates was looked at as a possible partner for both the financing and the technical support of the project; nevertheless, the enthusiasm has gradually cooled down. Apart from that, only India has shown interest, but there are no signed agreements yet.
The sanctions have contributed to the problem, adding another layer to it. The restrictions on imports of electronics, precision components, and high-tech systems forced the developers to look for domestic substitutes, which slowed down the progress. Recent war situations show how much Russian programs relied on imports and how difficult it has been so difficult for them to replace them internally.
Regardless of these difficulties, Russia is still promoting Checkmate to the world. At defense expos, the aircraft has been marketed with co-production opportunities, offers of technology transfer, and even lowered prices to attract buyers. This tactic follows the general trend of the global market, where partnerships and shared production are linked with not only political but also economic investments.
Of course, potential customers are still not entirely convinced. Without the accomplishment of a flight test, only a handful of them would be brave enough to place orders for what is still largely a conceptual aircraft. Previous instances of projects carried out late, such as the Su-57, made the case of distrust even stronger. The jet’s specifications and cost may seem very attractive, but still, doubts about the Checkmate program arise because of the lack of visible progress.
Ultimately, the Su-75 Checkmate embodies both the aspirations and the restrictions. It is a sign of the Russian willingness to compete in the worldwide stealth fighter market; nevertheless, it also tells us about industrial, financial, and technical troubles. If it turns out to be the most sold fighter or stays as an unfinished dream will largely be decided by the economic and diplomatic factors rather than engineering ones.