The Su-75 Checkmate was conceived as a lighter and more mass-produced alternative to the heavy Su-57. The aircraft was unveiled back in 2021, but the program has been delayed several times. In 2026, things picked up – OAK officially announced the start of construction of a prototype.
"Pervyy Tekhnicheskiy" answers three main questions from readers about the Su-75.
How many Su-75s does Russia have?
There are no serial Su-75s yet. Moreover, as of summer 2026, there is no flying prototype, although it was promised to be unveiled in January.
On June 2, OAK announced that it had begun construction of the Checkmate prototype. This is no longer about the full-size mock-up shown in 2021, but about creating a machine for subsequent testing.
What is the maximum speed of the Su-75?
According to OAK, the Checkmate is designed to fly at speeds up to Mach 1.8. This is approximately 1,900 km/h at high altitude, where the speed of sound differs significantly from its value at ground level. The manufacturer also indicates a range of up to 2,900 km without external fuel tanks.
However, Mach 1.8 is a calculated figure, not the result of an actual flight. The Su-75 still has to confirm its declared characteristics during flight tests.
What will the Su-75 be armed with?
The main feature of the Checkmate is the ability to place weapons in internal compartments, which should reduce the aircraft's radar signature.
In its basic configuration, the Su-75 is designed to use air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, as well as guided aerial bombs. For this purpose, central and side internal compartments are provided.
According to the declared data, the aircraft will be able to carry up to 7.4 tons of combat load. At the same time, the exact composition of weapons and their configuration should be determined at the stage of flight tests and refinement of the machine.