SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
A senior Indian Air Force (IAF) official, speaking to idrw.org under the condition of anonymity, has stated that the proposal for the Su-75 Checkmate, a single-engine stealth fighter developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau, is not being seriously considered by the IAF. The official explained that the Su-75 program requires substantial developmental funding from potential customers, making it financially unfeasible for India.
The Su-75 Checkmate was first revealed in the form of a full-size mockup at the MAKS 2021 airshow and followed by a series of patents in 2022, aimed primarily at the export market. Russia has positioned the Checkmate as a competitor to the American F-35, but the official emphasized that the Russian Air Force has no plans to procure the aircraft. This puts the burden of funding on potential export customers, which complicates its viability for the IAF.
The development of a fifth-generation stealth fighter requires substantial financial backing, which is typically provided by the procuring nation’s government. In the case of the Su-75, Russia has not committed any government funding to its production, placing the onus on foreign customers. The IAF official noted that “developmental funding will need to come from the export customer,” which significantly increases the financial risk for any nation interested in the project.
According to the official, this financial burden would make it highly unlikely for the IAF to invest in the Su-75 Checkmate, as India is already heavily invested in its fifth-generation aircraft programs, such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Since its debut, the Su-75 Checkmate has struggled to secure firm orders. The Checkmate advertising campaign in 2021 prominently featured “pilots” from countries like Argentina, India, the UAE, and Vietnam, indicating Russia’s target markets for the fighter. However, none of these nations have placed orders for the aircraft, leaving the Su-75 without a solid customer base.
A major factor hindering its adoption is that the Russian Air Force itself has shown no interest in procuring the fighter. The Sukhoi Design Bureau has been developing the aircraft largely at its own risk, without any firm commitments from the Russian government. In July 2021, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov admitted that the fighter is being produced “at the company’s own risk,” relying on the hope of attracting foreign buyers. This high-risk approach makes the aircraft’s future uncertain, and the IAF official stressed that “no one is waiting for it anyway.”
The IAF official’s comments suggest that the Su-75 Checkmate is not a viable option for the IAF due to its financial and developmental challenges. Without strong backing from Russia or any confirmed international orders, the Su-75 faces an uphill battle. The program’s reliance on securing export customers for funding presents a major obstacle, particularly for nations like India, which have their own indigenous stealth fighter programs.
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