Russia plans to build the first Su‑75 Prototype. Selling a plane that exists only in the blueprint
Russia's Minister of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, has announced plans to construct the first prototype of the Su-75 aircraft. This new machine is slated for takeoff in 2025, experiencing a delay of two years from the original timeline. As it currently stands, potential buyers have yet to express interest in this new model.
10:52 AM EST, November 14, 2023
The Su-75 (LTS Checkmate) is a lightweight, Russian 5th-generation fighter jet whose design and model were unveiled at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2021.
The aircraft is designed to meet stealth requirements, with a primary focus on foreign customers. For these customers, Russia's Su-57 could be seen as too large, complicated, and costly.
In terms of the specifications provided by the Russians, the Su-75 is a single-engine, single person aircraft, with plans for both two-person and unmanned versions. It possesses the capacity to reach speeds of Mach 2 and cover a range of approximately 1802 miles.
The aircraft is expected to have a starting weight of 19.8 tons and should be capable of carrying a combat load weighing up to 8.2 tons. Plans indicate various types of missiles will be stored in internal compartments to avoid increasing the aircraft's radar echo.
The Russians highlight that one key feature of the new aircraft is its ability to operate amidst strong radio-electronic combat (WRE) interference and simultaneously attack multiple targets.
Lack of Interest in Su-75
The plans for the Su-75 sound ambitious, but so far, Sukhoi fails to attract foreign customers for their new equipment. According to the Ukrainian Defense Express service, the Russians are willing to sell the Su-75 under almost any terms.
This lack of confidence from investors and potential buyers is not surprising. Currently, the Su-75 only exists as a project, with an impressive model and marketing videos, and its technical specifications are based merely on the promises made by its creators.
Sukhoi's most recent aircraft, the Su-57, took off in 2010, reaching its initial operational readiness in 2019. If we optimistically assume that the increasingly declining Russian aviation industry maintains a similar pace, potential buyers could expect the new aircraft to be commissioned around 2040.
