The emergence of Russia’s fifth-generation fighter jet Su-75 could significantly reshape the global military aviation market. This conclusion was reached by analysts writing for the Vietnamese publication Vietbao.

According to the report, the project is designed to offer a more affordable alternative to Western fifth-generation aircraft, which are typically known for their extremely high cost. The first test flight of the new fighter could take place as early as 2026.

The publication notes that the Su-75, known as «Checkmate», is expected to cost roughly a third of the price of the F-35 while reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.1 and carrying a large internal weapons bay. In the view of the article’s authors, such characteristics could make the aircraft a serious challenge for Western competitors and potentially alter the competitive landscape.

The analysts point out that the price of advanced fighters has traditionally limited the number of countries able to acquire them. The Su-75 project, however, aims to change that dynamic by combining relatively lower production costs with capabilities associated with fifth-generation combat aircraft.

A key design decision is the use of a single-engine configuration. As the publication explains, this approach significantly reduces operational and maintenance expenses while preserving the aircraft’s combat effectiveness.

The fighter will also be powered by the next-generation AL-51 °F-1 engine. This powerplant is expected to allow the aircraft to reach speeds of up to Mach 2.1 and maintain supersonic cruising without the need for afterburners.

Engineers have incorporated a distinctive U-shaped air intake beneath the forward section of the fuselage. Beyond shaping the aircraft’s recognizable appearance, this design improves airflow at high angles of attack, which enhances maneuverability during close-range air combat.

Unlike many light fighters, the Su-75 will feature a sizable internal weapons bay capable of carrying up to five air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles. This configuration allows the aircraft to retain low observability while penetrating air defense systems.

The aircraft’s maximum combat payload could reach nearly 7.5 tons — a notable figure for a single-engine fighter.

The publication concludes that with a flight range of about 3,000 kilometers and the ability to take off and land on short runways of around 400 meters, the Su-75 could become a formidable competitor in the global arms market.