Russia has rolled out its long-awaited Su-75 “Checkmate” stealth fighter jet that was supposed to compete with the American F-35 and the Shenyang FC-31. Yet, how it does internationally remains to be seen, as Su-75 has not elicited much interest from likely partners or customers since the Dubai Airshow 2021 and the initial MAKS-2021 Air Show presentation.
The Su-75 is a derivative of the Su-57 and is marketed for advanced avionics, artificial intelligence technologies, and open architecture configuration to ensure interoperability.
It is to achieve a top speed of Mach 1.8 with an operational range of 2,800 kilometers on internal fuel. It has a maximum take-off weight of 26,000 kilograms including up to 7,400 kilograms of weapons and stores.
Its development road was however troubled. Analysts John V. Parachini and Peter A. Wilson sharply identify problems like dependence on overseas orders, developmental lags from its predecessor Su-57, and technological limitations widened by sanctions.
The situation in the Ukraine grounds does not stop putting a strain on Russia’s defense resources irony of fate that hasn’t been able to offset the betterment of the Su-75’s development or marketability.
The Su-75 is one of the models that Russia has used considerable force to sell to India, which is a long-time partner in defense. On 4th February 2024, Rostec, a defense corporation owned by Russia’s state, declared the reduction of the price of the jet specifically to India. It is a sort of greater strategy from Russia to retain the defense partnership with India since New Delhi started diversifying its sources of defense procurements. Traditionally, it is the largest arms supplier to India with 65 percent of arms purchases India made in the last decades.
The Indian response, however, has been slow and calculated. New Delhi continues to push its fifth-generation fighter aircraft projects, the Tejas MkII and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, or AMCA. Moreover, India’s decision to back out in 2018 from the joint development of the Su-57 over continued failures and disagreements concerning technology transfer does not reflect an eagerness to enter into a relationship with the Su-75.
Geopolitical factors also matter. India might end up influencing its relations with the major powers, including the United States of America, by choosing to accept Su-75. The US-sanctioned countries that dived deeply into doing business with Russia under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Notably, once exempted from the sanctions over a serious purchase of the S-400 air defense system, a massive defense purchase or deal with Russia might make the US act more sternly.
The market for the Su-75 is far from being in full swing, neither is it in India. The UAE, for instance, has been very reserved about joining the program. Russia has its share of the global arms market at its lowest in recent years, as it lost that status last year after France edged it out to become the world’s second-largest exporter after the United States. Budget constraints and steadily rising development costs have effectively slowed down the Su-75’s progress.
The problems of the Su-75 are symptoms of deeper issues in the defense industry of Russia. Past cases, including the T-14 Armata tank and the Su-57 Felon, were with technical problems or delayed implementation that turned out to have strategic costs of critical proportions.
Again, the same pattern repeats in the case of Su-75-a machine that is incompetent to meet the promises and find its space in the complicated global market.
The more Russia advertises the Su-75 at international defense exhibitions like Riyadh’s World Defense Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia, the more uncertain the aircraft’s future is.
The market for a combat jet globally will be driven by intense competition among already established players, which also includes Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and Boeing’s F/A-18 in most sales around the world.
Furthermore, geopolitical alliances and local security issues here are not easy to penetrate for Russian products.
In short, the Su-75 “Checkmate” is waiting to find its interested buyers among a complex array of geopolitical interests, and technical and market competition. Whether Russia will be able to bridge these gaps and gain a niche for its newest stealth fighter, only time will tell.