The Su-75 Checkmate is being developed not only for the Russian Defense Ministry, but also with foreign buyers in mind, United Aircraft Corporation CEO Vadim Badekha told TASS ahead of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Badekha said the aircraft has strong potential, though delivery timelines will depend on talks with customers, their level of interest and the specific tasks they want the fighter to perform. The Russian Defense Ministry, he added, has also set a clear priority for developers: bring down the final cost of the aircraft.

That focus on cost is one of the Su-75’s main selling points. According to Badekha, the single-engine design should make both the aircraft itself and its operation cheaper. For the Russian military, he said, that factor is now especially important, and UAC is prepared to work within those requirements.

Earlier reports said Russian specialists had begun building the first prototype of the fifth-generation Checkmate fighter. Flight tests of the new light single-engine aircraft are expected to take several years.

Checkmate, whose name translates as «checkmate," is intended to become Russia’s second fifth-generation fighter. It was conceived as an alternative and complement to the heavy Su-57, which entered serial production in 2020.

The Su-75 project includes three versions: single-seat, two-seat and unmanned. The single-seat model is expected to serve as the baseline aircraft. The two-seat version is being considered as a trainer, while unmanned variants could operate as part of a strike group controlled by a manned Su-57, alongside the existing concept involving the Su-57 and the heavy Su-70 Okhotnik drone.

The declared flight range of the Su-75 without external fuel tanks is 2,900 kilometers, with a speed of Mach 1.8. The aircraft’s price has been estimated at around $25 million to $30 million. By comparison, the U.S. F-35 costs more than $100 million.

Checkmate is designed to carry up to five air-to-air missiles, with a maximum combat payload listed at 7,400 kilograms. At the 2021 presentation, Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov said the aircraft would be able to counter fifth-generation fighters at both long and short ranges. It was also stated that the Su-75 could engage up to six targets at once and had a combat radius of more than 3,000 kilometers.

Developers also point to improved stealth as an additional advantage, saying it should increase the aircraft’s ability to break through enemy air defenses.