Days after Denis Manturov, Russian Minister of Industry and Commerce, confirmed that the Su-75 Checkmate fighter jet had its first flight delayed to 2024, Yury Slyusar, CEO of United Aircraft Corporation, revealed that the new aircraft will have four prototypes manufactured.
Designed by Sukhoi, also creator of the Su-57 Felon, the Checkmate is a single-engine fighter with stealth shapes, therefore 5th generation.
The supersonic jet was introduced at MAKS 2021 as an export product as the Russian Air Force had set years ago that it would only operate twin-engine fighter jets. However, given the challenges imposed on the country after the invasion of Ukraine, it is virtually certain that the Su-75 will be added to the Russian fleet.
According to Slyusar, Sukhoi is working on assembling the first two test planes. “We use advanced super-computer technologies in the Checkmate project, which enables us to substantially cut the timeframe of building the prototype and begin the flight tests already in 2024. Now preparations have been launched for the production of two prototypes. In all, we plan to build four prototypes,” the executive told the TASS agency.
UAC is also working on an unmanned variant, which is in the early stages of design.
F-35 and Gripen competitor
According to the company, the Su-75 will fly at Mach 1.8, will have an operational range of 3,000 km and the capacity to carry up to 7 tons of weapons, at least part of it in an internal compartment.
Russia is betting on the aircraft as the starting point of a new design and development methodology, using virtual tools and an open architecture configuration, which will allow for more frequent avionics updates.
The Checkmate is expected to be a competitor for the Lockheed Martin F-35 and the Saab Gripen E/F.
