Sukhoi Su-75 - Russia's new 5th generation fighter shocked USAF

Sukhoi Su-75 - Russia's new 5th generation fighter shocked USAF

Russia's new 5th generation fighter, the Sukhoi Su-75 Skakmat, has its maiden flight date postponed from 2023 to 2024. The change was confirmed by Denis Manturov, Russia's Minister of Industry and Trade, to the Interfax agency.

“Changes were made to the design, which corrected the time of the first flight. But at the same time, the principles of modularity and modern digital technologies make it possible to make these changes in the shortest possible time, and in early 2024 we plan to start flight tests," said Manturov.

The Su-75 was announced by Rostec, Russia's state-owned technology conglomerate, in July last year during the MAKS 2021 air show in Moscow. The aircraft is the second 5th generation fighter aircraft project developed in Russia. The first is the Sukhoi Su-57, which was introduced to the Russian Air Force several years ago.

“During the time that has passed since the presentation of the project at MAKS 2021, we have received feedback from potential customers. Work is also being carried out to optimize costs and analyze individual technical solutions, which will make it possible to significantly increase competitiveness, commercial attractiveness and reduce technical risks in creating domestic single-engine machines”, said the minister.

Manturov, however, did not comment on changes to the production schedule for the new jet, which is scheduled to start in mid-2027.

The checkmate project is the result of advances in Russian science and engineering, achieved mainly through the progress seen today from the Su-57, which was the country's first Russian stealth fighter.

Russia, however, focused the Su-75 on foreign markets and for that Rostec demonstrated two aspects of the fighter it considered "invincible".

The first advantage is the aircraft's weight-to-power ratio, "unique in its class", according to the company. The second is the purchase price of the new fighter, estimated to be between $25 million and $30 million.

Estimates are between 30% and 40% of the amount charged for the F-35A, a 5th-generation Lockheed Martin fighter that has won several competitions around the world.