The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has confirmed that Russia’s next-generation light tactical fighter program, the Su-75 “Checkmate,” has entered the prototype construction stage, marking a significant milestone in the country’s effort to develop a cost-competitive fifth-generation combat aircraft for both domestic and export markets.
Vadim Badekha, General Director of UAC, told TASS on June 2 that development work on the aircraft has progressed into hardware realization.
“The work on Checkmate is already at the stage of building a prototype,” Badekha stated.The announcement signals renewed momentum for a program that has undergone several design revisions and schedule adjustments since its public debut at the MAKS 2021 airshow, where Russia’s Sukhoi design bureau first unveiled the low-observable, single-engine fighter concept.
The Su-75 “Checkmate,” developed by Sukhoi and integrated under Rostec’s United Aircraft Corporation structure, is designed as a medium-lightweight, single-engine, fifth-generation stealth fighter. It is intended to complement heavier twin-engine platforms such as the Su-57, while offering significantly lower acquisition and operating costs.
According to Badekha, the aircraft is being developed not only for Russian Aerospace Forces requirements but also with export customers in mind, a central feature of its design philosophy since its unveiling.
Analysts and Russian defense officials have repeatedly emphasized that the aircraft’s single-engine configuration is a deliberate trade-off to reduce lifecycle costs, simplify maintenance, and broaden the platform’s appeal to foreign operators with more limited defense budgets.
The aircraft is estimated to have a unit cost of approximately $30 million, substantially below the estimated $80 million-plus cost of the F-35 Lightning II, which it is often compared against in terms of role and capability class.
The Checkmate concept was first revealed at MAKS 2021 as a low-observable, supermaneuverable, optionally manned fighter capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 2. The aircraft was designed using extensive electronic modeling and digital twin technologies, which Russian industry officials have claimed reduced development timelines by as much as five years compared to traditional aircraft design processes.
According to Sukhoi representatives, the design was informed in part by operational lessons from Russian combat deployments in Syria, where analysis reportedly indicated that many mission profiles did not require the full capabilities of heavy twin-engine fighters.
This operational reassessment contributed to the development of a lighter, more cost-efficient platform intended for strike, interception, and multirole missions in lower-threat environments.
- Reduced acquisition and operating costs
- Artificial intelligence-assisted single-pilot operations
- Simplified maintenance and logistics footprint
- High levels of automation and sensor fusion
These features position the aircraft within the broader global trend toward more networked, software-driven combat aviation platforms.
Since its unveiling, the Su-75 program has experienced multiple timeline revisions. Initial projections announced at Dubai Airshow 2021 suggested a maiden flight by the end of 2023. However, subsequent design refinements and restructuring of development priorities led to delays.
Rostec later confirmed that the schedule was adjusted to accommodate significant redesign work aimed at improving performance parameters, reducing technical risk, and enhancing the aircraft’s export competitiveness.
During the Dubai Airshow 2023 cycle, Russian defense industry officials stated that preparations for prototype manufacturing were underway, signaling that the program had transitioned from conceptual design toward production readiness.
In November 2025, Sukhoi chief test pilot Sergei Bogdan reiterated that the aircraft’s first flight was expected in 2026 during an interview on Russia’s Channel One television.
“The aircraft is already on the shop floor, it is already being finalized, and there are already certain timelines. Therefore, with God’s help, it should take place soon enough,” Bogdan said. Earlier reporting by Russian media outlet Izvestia in January also indicated a 2026 first-flight target, aligning with subsequent statements from defense officials.
By early 2025, Russian media reports indicated that the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ), named after Yuri Gagarin, was preparing to assemble two Su-75 prototypes—one intended for static ground testing and another for flight trials.
First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’s Defense and Security Committee, Viktor Bondarev, confirmed that documentation had already been transferred to production facilities and that preparations for a pilot batch were underway.
He stated that initial limited production could begin in 2026, pending successful prototype testing.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov has also noted that the program underwent iterative adjustments based on feedback from potential customers, which influenced changes to cockpit layout, control systems, and integrated weapons configurations.
At Dubai Airshow 2025, Russia further expanded the conceptual scope of the Checkmate family by presenting a model of an unmanned variant alongside the manned version.
The unmanned configuration featured aerodynamic modifications including a redesigned wing structure and altered rear fuselage, suggesting adaptation for autonomous or optionally piloted operations.
As of the latest disclosures, the Su-75 is being considered in three configurations:
- Single-seat manned fighter
- Twin-seat variant (for training or mission specialization)
- Unmanned combat variant
This modular approach reflects broader trends in modern fighter development, where airframes are increasingly designed to support multiple operational modes across manned and unmanned missions.
The Su-75 program has also been discussed in the context of potential international cooperation. Russian media has previously reported that the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) has explored collaboration with Belarus on aspects of the Checkmate project.
More recently, in February 2026, officials from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India indicated openness to future cooperation with Russian industry on new aircraft programs.
A HAL representative told TASS: Historically, HAL has worked with Russian aerospace firms on licensed production of aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-27, and Su-30MKI. However, joint design-level development has been limited.
Defense analysts note that while cooperation could theoretically support India’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” industrial policies, the Su-75’s current development stage may limit opportunities for early-stage collaboration. Russian officials have indicated that initial production batches are intended to meet domestic requirements first, with export configurations to follow.
The Checkmate program is widely viewed as Russia’s attempt to secure a position in the competitive global lightweight stealth fighter segment, a market niche currently underserved but increasingly relevant to mid-tier air forces seeking advanced capability at lower cost.
If successfully realized, the aircraft would compete indirectly with both Western platforms such as the F-35 and emerging Chinese designs, while offering a distinctly lower-cost export-oriented alternative.
Supporters of the program argue that its emphasis on affordability, modularity, and reduced logistical burden could make it attractive to countries unable to afford or politically constrained from acquiring Western fifth-generation fighters.
Critics, however, point to repeated delays, limited public testing data, and the challenges of transitioning advanced stealth aircraft from concept to operational production under current industrial constraints.
With prototype construction now underway and a first flight target set for 2026, the Su-75 program is entering its most critical phase yet. Success will depend on whether Russia can translate its digital design ambitions into a fully functioning flight-ready aircraft within the projected timeline.
The Checkmate remains one of the most closely watched emerging fighter programs in the global defense industry—an ambitious attempt to deliver a low-cost, fifth-generation stealth platform into an increasingly competitive and technologically demanding aerospace environment.
