Characteristics and description of the most promising Su-75 fighter
Rostec has announced that it is preparing to produce the first samples of the Su-75 Checkmate fighter. The light tactical stealth aircraft was presented at the MAKS and Dubai Airshow airshows in 2021 and received positive feedback from experts. It is planned that the fifth-generation fighter will be produced in both manned and unmanned versions. Details are in the material of Izvestia.
Su-75 Checkmate fighter: description, photo and translation
The development of the Su-75 Checkmate light single—engine fighter is entering the stage of creating the first samples - preparations for this have already begun, the Rostec press service reported.
Checkmate, which translates as "checkmate", will become the second Russian fifth-generation fighter, it was conceived as an alternative and addition to the heavy Su-57, which went into production in 2020.
The term "fifth generation" is used to refer to military aircraft that have, among other things, the characteristics of low visibility, the ability to fly at supersonic speed. The equipment is also equipped with artificial intelligence, which helps pilots control the aircraft.
Prototype of the new light multi-purpose single-engine fighter of the fifth generation Su-75 Chekmate
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
"Why was Checkmate named in English? Because it is mainly export—oriented," explained Sergey Chemezov, head of Rostec. We are talking primarily about supplies to the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.
It is planned that the Su-75 will be produced in three versions : single, double and unmanned. The first option will be the main one, the second one will be a training one, and the drones will be able to work as a strike group under the control of the Su—57 manned combat aircraft - along with the Su-57 tandem and the Su—70 Hunter.
The final version of Checkmate differs from the sample of 2021. As explained in Rostec, after the presentation of the novelty, the company adjusted the cost of the project and made several technical changes to increase the competitiveness of the domestic aircraft and reduce technical risks during its creation.
Fighter Checkmate — characteristics
The flight range of the Su-75 without outboard fuel tanks is 2.9 thousand km, the speed is Mach 1.8. The declared cost of the aircraft is about $ 25-30 million (while the American competitor F—35 costs more than $ 100 million).
The fighter is capable of carrying up to five air–to-air missiles, the maximum combat load of Checkmate is 7.4 thousand kg.
"It is capable of effectively resisting fifth—generation aircraft in long-range and close-range battles," explained Sergey Chemezov at a presentation in 2021. The Su-75 will be able to simultaneously hit up to six targets, and the combat radius exceeds 3 thousand km. Improved invisibility further increases its ability to break through enemy air defenses.
According to the portal "Russian Weapons", the Su-75 will be equipped with an AL-41F1S engine or a "product 30" (the second stage engine for the Su-57) with a thrust of 15-18 tons. Also, the Su-75 will receive an interference-proof radar with the AFAR "Zhuk-MAE", capable of detecting inconspicuous targets at a distance of 180-200 km.
Like other Russian fighters, Checkmate will be equipped with a multispectral optoelectronic sighting system from the OLS-50M line for searching and tracking targets without using radar.
Prototype of the new light multi-purpose single-engine fighter of the fifth generation Su-75 Chekmate
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Zurab Javakhadze
Checkmate will be able to operate both in tandem with the Su-57 and autonomously. To exchange data in tandem, a two-way asynchronous communication channel will be used, and in offline mode, Checkmate will use its own navigation system and combat algorithms.
It is assumed that the Su-75 will be able to compete for the attention of other states with another well—known single-engine aircraft - the F-35.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, the first prototype of the aircraft, taking into account improvements, can be created by the end of 2025. The installation batch of Checkmate fighters is planned to be produced in 2026, and the series will be launched in 2027.
Su-75 Checkmate: reviews and reaction
If the first Russian fighter of the fifth generation Su-57 in NATO was called the code word Felon ("criminal"), then the nickname of the Su-75 because of the large air intake is Screamer ("screamer").
At the same time, after the presentation of Checkmate in 2021, foreign publications appreciated the idea.
"The project is very promising if it provides an unpretentious fighter in operation with decent characteristics of the fifth generation. If successful, he will even be able to become the heir of the MiG-21, which is used in large quantities outside the Western world," writes the author of the Croatian military analytical magazine Binkov's Battlegrounds.
In an article by Forbes, a well-known expert David Ex called the Su-75 fighter a high-flying bird, noting that it will be useful both on land and in the navy.
In August 2019, the United States compiled the top 5 most powerful Russian military aircraft. It includes the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter, as well as the fourth-generation Su-35, Su-27, MiG—29 and Tu-160 bomber (according to the NATO classification - "Blackjack").
Izvestia
