After the presentation of the Su-75 Checkmate, many decided that Russia was creating a more modern replacement for the Su-57. At first glance, this logic seems understandable – both aircraft belong to a new generation of combat aviation, use stealth technologies, and are developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
But in reality, these machines are designed for completely different tasks. The Su-57 and Su-75 differ not only in size and number of engines but also in their very philosophy of application. "Pervy Tekhnichesky" figured out why there is much less competition between them than it seems.
Heavy and Light Fighter
The main difference begins with the weight category. The Su-57 was created as a heavy multi-role fighter. Its maximum takeoff weight exceeds 35 tons, and the large volume of internal compartments allows for a wide range of missiles and other weapons.
The Su-75 belongs to a lighter class. According to the developers' calculations, its maximum takeoff weight should be around 18–20 tons. In fact, the Checkmate is almost twice as light as its older counterpart.
That is why comparing these aircraft directly is not entirely correct. They occupy different niches within combat aviation.
One Engine Versus Two
The second fundamental difference is the power plant. The Su-57 is equipped with two engines. This scheme provides high thrust-to-weight ratio, better survivability, and allows for complex maneuvers even with partial thrust loss.
The Su-75 received a single-engine layout. This solution makes the aircraft cheaper to produce and operate, reduces fuel consumption, and simplifies maintenance.
In fact, the developers sacrificed some capabilities for the sake of reducing ownership costs.
Combat Capabilities
The Su-57 was designed as a universal machine for achieving air superiority. It is capable not only of conducting air combat but also of striking ground and naval targets and performing reconnaissance.
The Su-75 was conceived as a more mass-produced fighter. Its armament is also placed in internal compartments, but the overall fuel and payload capacity will be significantly less.
However, the cost of one such aircraft could potentially be significantly lower than that of the heavy Su-57.
Why They Are Needed Together
The Su-57 can act as a lead aircraft, detect targets at long range, and manage a group. The Su-75 can take on some strike tasks while maintaining lower operating costs.
For this reason, the Checkmate cannot be considered a replacement for the Su-57. Rather, it is an attempt to create a Russian analogue of the concept where an expensive heavy fighter is complemented by a more affordable mass-produced machine.
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