Summary and Key Points:
Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate stealth fighter, designed as a cost-effective counterpart to the F-35, is having difficulty attracting potential international customers.
In spite of intense promotional efforts at aerospace exhibitions, prospective buyers such as India, Algeria, and the UAE have demonstrated interest yet haven’t finalized any purchases.
-Western sanctions due to Russia’s Ukraine invasion have hampered the jet’s production capabilities, creating supply chain issues.
-Furthermore, the evolving nature of combat, underscored by the prominence of drones in Ukraine, diminishes the attractiveness of costly fighter jets.
Russia’s reputation for overstating capabilities also undermines buyer confidence.
– Although the Checkmate presents appealing features in theory, its practical prospects remain unclear due to the continuing conflict and financial constraints.
Su-75 Checkmate Math Problem: No Aircraft Are Fighter Planes
Russia’s
Su-75 Checkmate
stealth
fighter
is participating in an inadequate match of
chess
.
Vladimir Putin needs to sell this radar-evading warbird on the export market for the program to pay for itself, as
resources are tight
during the war in
Ukraine
.
The Su-75 hasn’t attracted any buyers; although some nations show interest, none have ultimately made a purchase.
Time is wasted for the
Checkmate
, and the Russians have attempted every strategy to promote the warplane at airshows – even offering giveaways.
bottles of cologne
to sweeten the deal.
Su-75 Checkmate: Where Are All the Customers?
The Russians thought that wealthy or up-and-coming countries in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa who are not able to buy the more expensive
F-35
would want an affordable
stealth fighter
to rule over competitors in their own territories.
Ultimately, nothing underscores the presence of an advanced military quite like possessing a squadron of stealth aircraft.
The UAE, Nigeria, Algeria, and India were interested but ultimately passed. This must frustrate Putin as he sees
Russian aviation designers
and engineers considered the finest globally.
The Su-75 has a stylish appearance, and it ought to make air forces worldwide quite eager for adoption.
Sanctions Eroding Production
The Su-75 might still not be prepared for export purposes.
international sanctions
Have adversely impacted Russia’s capacity to obtain sophisticated components needed for producing this aircraft in significant quantities.
Russia is a pariah after invading Ukraine, and microelectronics and other high-tech components are difficult to come by. This has created supply chain issues and kept the warbird from being produced handily. Even if the Russians inked a contract today, it would likely have difficulty starting up the production lines.
The Era of Aerial Combat Might Be Coming to an End, and fighter jets may not be required as much.
The evolving character of combat is also impacting the sales of the Su-75.
Nations are observing air battles taking place above Ukraine.
Russia
What they observe is unexpected. Initially, the conflict seemed to involve endless dogfights featuring air-to-air missiles and close-range gun battles, but this hasn’t been the case over the past two years.
There hasn’t been significant dogfighting between aircraft. The Russian Air Force believed that its
Su-57 Felon
A stealth aircraft was expected to have dominance, yet military leaders opted against deploying it in active duty, worried that it might get hit and result in a significant triumph for the Ukrainian forces.
Are Inexpensive Drones More Effective Than Costly Fighter Jets?
The Russian Air Force has opted to keep its fighter jets beyond the reach of Ukraine’s air defense systems and has conducted airstrikes from there.
glide bombs
And opting for long-range missiles rather than confronting Ukrainian aircraft directly. Nations that usually choose fighters are now considering drones as an alternative.
Long-range drones have targeted Russian aircraft stationed on the ground outside their hangars, successfully destroying these planes while they were stationary.
Why invest in costly fighters that can’t engage in dogfights and have to avoid enemy air defense systems? They might end up being destroyed by drones anyway. It seems like a huge waste.
Additionally, there is the tendency among Russians to exaggerate their weapon systems’ capabilities and sometimes misrepresent the progress of these programs.
The Su-75 has faced accusations of being “
vaporware
“as stated by the RAND Corporation.” This suggests it might just be rhetoric without substantial follow-through. The Russians might showcase mock-ups and prototypes at aviation exhibitions, yet these displays could merely serve as distractions. Why would anyone commit to a significant, costly purchase if the aircraft doesn’t advance to series production?
Su-75 Checkmate: Not So Poor as a Stealth Jet on Paper
The Su-75 Checkmate has several positive features. It is built to achieve a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and can travel up to 1,900 miles.
It costs around
$30 million each
This option is less expensive compared to the F-35. If Russia achieves its goals for advanced capabilities, this aircraft could also function as a drone carrier.
The aircraft ought to operate routinely by the following year. Putin’s military leaders aim to construct 300 Su-75s, though that seems overly hopeful at present without international buyers.
There is still a battle left to wage. Should there be a truce, Putin might redirect efforts towards his aerospace industry, identify bottlenecks, focus on attracting international purchasers, and showcase the product at airshows to dazzle potential clients.
Until then, the Su-75 Checkmate remains in the waiting stage and is falling behind on the chessboard.
A checkmate is not guaranteed at all.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood
, Ph.D., is the writer of
Do Not Look Away From The Globe: A Conservative Approach To Foreign Policy
and
People, Equipment, and Information: Emerging Patterns in Combat
, along with two additional books. Brent founded and led a technology company that utilized artificial intelligence to forecast global events. Previously, he worked as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and provided counsel on matters related to defense and international affairs. He has shared his expertise through teaching positions at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Prior to this, Brent served as an officer in the U.S. Army Infantry. You can follow him on X @
BMEastwood
.
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