This is the future aircraft of the Russian side. Russia is still working on the development of its fifth-generation Su-75 fighter jet, according to revelations from its manufacturer at the Dubai Air Show this weekend. “We are still studying the development of this device. We need time to get a final prototype for flight tests,” Sergei Chemezov, director of Russian defense conglomerate Rostec, explained to the press.
“Basically we are almost at the flight test stage, and in the near future we will start production,” he added. According to Sergei Bogdan, Sukhoi’s test chief, interviewed by Russian public television channel Perviy Kanal, the first test flight should take place “in early 2026”. “The device has entered production, is in the finalization stage, and the exact schedule has been determined. It’s very close,” he said.
Effective even against “complicated jamming”
Presented with great fanfare at the 2021 Dubai Motor Show in a prototype version, the Su-75 fighter was supposed to symbolize Moscow’s progress in the air sector, especially based on its experience in Ukraine. But for four years, no images or other concrete evidence of the existence of a prototype under construction or preliminary testing had been released.
Also known as the Light Tactical Aircraft (LTA), or LTS in Russian, the Su-75 “Checkmate” is a single-engine stealth fighter, considered a future competitor to the F-35. With 7,400 kg of air-to-air and/or air-to-ground ammunition, the weapon can be used in areas “protected by air defense systems” and “in complex jamming environments” in particular thanks to its electronically scanned radar and infrared systems according to The War Zone.
With a maximum takeoff weight of around 26,000 kg, its maximum speed is estimated to be between Mach 1.8 and Mach 2, or almost 2,500 km/h. The whole thing would have a length of 17.4 m and a wingspan of 11.9 m if Rostec had not changed its dimensions for four years.
But if the Su-75 gets airborne soon, could it one day join the front ranks in Ukraine? “In general, it takes between 10 and 15 years to design a high-performance aircraft,” answered Rostec boss Sergei Chemezov. In comparison, the first flight of the Su-57 prototype took place in 2010 and it took another ten years for production to officially start. Therefore, Russia’s future fighter aircraft is still just a concept.
