Russia’s Su-75 Stealth Fighter Jet Nears Bench Testing Milestone Ahead of First Flight Phase
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Russia used Dubai Airshow 2025 to signal that its Su-75 Checkmate single-engine stealth fighter is shifting into bench and rig testing, with a first flight now in sight, according to Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov and Russian media. The move suggests Moscow still sees Checkmate as its affordable fifth-generation export option, even as sanctions and the war in Ukraine strain Russia’s aerospace industry and access to key components.
On 19 November 2025, during the Dubai Airshow, Russia used the international stage to signal that its Su-75 Checkmate program is entering a decisive new phase, as reported by the Russian News Agency TASS. Speaking on the sidelines of the show, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov stated that the light single-engine fifth-generation fighter is now close to the point where a first flight can be attempted and that comprehensive bench and rig tests of the aircraft and its systems will begin shortly. By stressing that the prototype is already assembled and approaching the “flight stage”, Chemezov sought to demonstrate continuity in a program that has faced repeated schedule changes and external pressure. The announcement is significant because it confirms that Moscow continues to invest political and industrial capital in Checkmate as its affordable fifth-generation offer for both domestic use and export markets, at a time when sanctions and the war in Ukraine constrain Russia’s aerospace ambitions.
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Russia is determined to push the Su-75 Checkmate beyond the mock-up stage toward a flight-worthy prototype supported by structured bench testing and engine trials (Picture Source: Russian Social Media)
Chemezov emphasized that the transition from conceptual design to operational deployment of a modern combat aircraft is an inherently lengthy process, typically spanning 10 to 15 years. Regarding the Su-75, he noted that the program has advanced to a stage where the airframe is structurally complete, engine testing is scheduled to commence, and preparations are underway for a series of ground evaluations. Rostec’s development roadmap outlines the forthcoming milestones, including initiating and running the powerplant, conducting bench tests to validate propulsion and onboard systems, verifying the integration of avionics and weapons interfaces, and ultimately determining the date for the aircraft’s maiden flight. Drawing on a familiar analogy, Chemezov remarked that aircraft “are not born in nine months like children,” while affirming that the program is now approaching the threshold of tangible flight trials.
From an industrial and technical standpoint, the Su-75, also known as LTS or T-75, is designed as a single-engine, stealthy multirole fighter positioned below the heavier Su-57 in Russia’s portfolio. The airframe features a diverterless supersonic inlet, a V-tail and internal weapons bays, all intended to reduce radar cross-section compared to legacy Flanker-family fighters. Publicly available design data indicates a projected combat radius of up to 3,000 km, a maximum payload around 7,400 kg and a top speed in the Mach 1.8–2.0 bracket, placing the aircraft in the light-to-medium weight multirole category. The powerplant is expected to be a version of the Saturn AL-51F-1 engine, offering substantially higher thrust and efficiency than earlier Russian engines, while the avionics suite is conceived around open-architecture systems, a low-cost AESA radar and diagnostic tools designed to minimise maintenance demands. Chemezov reiterated in Dubai that the single-engine configuration and modular systems are meant to keep acquisition and operating costs down while still allowing the aircraft to carry a versatile weapons package for both air-to-air combat and strikes against surface targets.
The trajectory of the Su-75 Checkmate program highlights both the ambition and the operational hurdles facing Russia’s defense industry. First showcased as a full-scale static prototype at MAKS-2021 in the presence of President Vladimir Putin, the fighter made its global debut at that year’s Dubai Airshow. Initial forecasts outlined a first flight by 2023 and rapid progression toward series production, yet these milestones have been progressively delayed, first to 2024, then 2025, and most recently to early 2026, as stated by Sukhoi chief test pilot Sergey Bogdan.
On the tactical plane, Checkmate is intended to offer capabilities that sit between high-end fifth-generation platforms such as the F-35A and the latest 4.5-generation fighters like the Gripen E or Rafale. Its reduced radar signature, internal weapons carriage and modern sensors are designed to enhance survivability against contemporary air-defence systems, while the single-engine layout and shared components with the Su-57 should, in theory, lower life-cycle costs and simplify logistics. Compared to heavier twin-engine Russian fighters, a fleet of Su-75s could be fielded in larger numbers for the same budget, enabling more persistent patrols, air-policing missions and strike sorties, especially for air forces with limited resources. At the same time, Western assessments have highlighted open questions about the true level of stealth, sensor fusion and networking that the production aircraft will achieve, particularly relative to established systems like the F-35 or South Korea’s KF-21, underscoring that Checkmate’s promised advantages remain to be proven in service.
From a strategic perspective, Moscow positions the Su-75 as a pivotal asset for sustaining its presence in the global fighter aircraft market and for strengthening partnerships with states seeking alternatives to Western or Chinese platforms. Rostec consistently presents the aircraft as an export-focused solution, emphasizing its modular design, open avionics architecture, and compatibility with a wide array of precision-guided munitions tailored to customer requirements. Interest has reportedly emerged from regions including Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Furthermore, discussions on potential industrial collaboration, such as reported talks with Belarus regarding joint production, underscore the role of the Su-75 “Checkmate” as a vehicle for broader defense-industrial integration within the post-Soviet sphere. Nevertheless, the program unfolds under significant scrutiny: for prospective buyers, Russia’s capacity to deliver a fifth-generation fighter under sanctions, ensure long-term sustainment, and provide reliable access to critical technologies will weigh as heavily as the aircraft’s advertised performance metrics.
For the Russian Aerospace Forces, if it reaches serial production, the Su-75 is intended to complement the Su-57 by providing a more numerous, cheaper stealth platform capable of air superiority, deep strike and close-air-support missions. Sharing avionics, weapons and maintenance infrastructure between the two types would, in principle, allow Russia to build a layered fifth-generation fleet, with Checkmate taking on routine and export tasks while the heavier Su-57 focuses on specialised missions. In operational terms, a mature Su-75 could offer Russia and its partners a platform for penetrating modern integrated air-defence systems, executing precision strikes at long range and participating in network-centric air operations. All of these roles, however, hinge on the program’s successful completion of bench testing, flight trials, and weapons integration, as well as on the capacity of Russia’s industrial base to transition from prototypes to dependable series production.
The update delivered at Dubai Airshow shows that, despite delays and external pressures, Russia is determined to push the Su-75 Checkmate beyond the mock-up stage toward a flight-worthy prototype supported by structured bench testing and engine trials. If the timeline announced by Russian officials holds and a first flight occurs in early 2026, the program will enter a phase where its technical credibility, export attractiveness and strategic value can be judged on concrete test results rather than promises. For now, the move into bench testing marks a crucial signal to allies, competitors and potential clients that Moscow intends Checkmate to become a real contender in the crowded market for next-generation fighters, and not simply a symbol on an airshow stand.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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Russia used Dubai Airshow 2025 to signal that its Su-75 Checkmate single-engine stealth fighter is shifting into bench and rig testing, with a first flight now in sight, according to Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov and Russian media. The move suggests Moscow still sees Checkmate as its affordable fifth-generation export option, even as sanctions and the war in Ukraine strain Russia’s aerospace industry and access to key components.
On 19 November 2025, during the Dubai Airshow, Russia used the international stage to signal that its Su-75 Checkmate program is entering a decisive new phase, as reported by the Russian News Agency TASS. Speaking on the sidelines of the show, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov stated that the light single-engine fifth-generation fighter is now close to the point where a first flight can be attempted and that comprehensive bench and rig tests of the aircraft and its systems will begin shortly. By stressing that the prototype is already assembled and approaching the “flight stage”, Chemezov sought to demonstrate continuity in a program that has faced repeated schedule changes and external pressure. The announcement is significant because it confirms that Moscow continues to invest political and industrial capital in Checkmate as its affordable fifth-generation offer for both domestic use and export markets, at a time when sanctions and the war in Ukraine constrain Russia’s aerospace ambitions.
Russia is determined to push the Su-75 Checkmate beyond the mock-up stage toward a flight-worthy prototype supported by structured bench testing and engine trials (Picture Source: Russian Social Media)
Chemezov emphasized that the transition from conceptual design to operational deployment of a modern combat aircraft is an inherently lengthy process, typically spanning 10 to 15 years. Regarding the Su-75, he noted that the program has advanced to a stage where the airframe is structurally complete, engine testing is scheduled to commence, and preparations are underway for a series of ground evaluations. Rostec’s development roadmap outlines the forthcoming milestones, including initiating and running the powerplant, conducting bench tests to validate propulsion and onboard systems, verifying the integration of avionics and weapons interfaces, and ultimately determining the date for the aircraft’s maiden flight. Drawing on a familiar analogy, Chemezov remarked that aircraft “are not born in nine months like children,” while affirming that the program is now approaching the threshold of tangible flight trials.
From an industrial and technical standpoint, the Su-75, also known as LTS or T-75, is designed as a single-engine, stealthy multirole fighter positioned below the heavier Su-57 in Russia’s portfolio. The airframe features a diverterless supersonic inlet, a V-tail and internal weapons bays, all intended to reduce radar cross-section compared to legacy Flanker-family fighters. Publicly available design data indicates a projected combat radius of up to 3,000 km, a maximum payload around 7,400 kg and a top speed in the Mach 1.8–2.0 bracket, placing the aircraft in the light-to-medium weight multirole category. The powerplant is expected to be a version of the Saturn AL-51F-1 engine, offering substantially higher thrust and efficiency than earlier Russian engines, while the avionics suite is conceived around open-architecture systems, a low-cost AESA radar and diagnostic tools designed to minimise maintenance demands. Chemezov reiterated in Dubai that the single-engine configuration and modular systems are meant to keep acquisition and operating costs down while still allowing the aircraft to carry a versatile weapons package for both air-to-air combat and strikes against surface targets.
The trajectory of the Su-75 Checkmate program highlights both the ambition and the operational hurdles facing Russia’s defense industry. First showcased as a full-scale static prototype at MAKS-2021 in the presence of President Vladimir Putin, the fighter made its global debut at that year’s Dubai Airshow. Initial forecasts outlined a first flight by 2023 and rapid progression toward series production, yet these milestones have been progressively delayed, first to 2024, then 2025, and most recently to early 2026, as stated by Sukhoi chief test pilot Sergey Bogdan.
On the tactical plane, Checkmate is intended to offer capabilities that sit between high-end fifth-generation platforms such as the F-35A and the latest 4.5-generation fighters like the Gripen E or Rafale. Its reduced radar signature, internal weapons carriage and modern sensors are designed to enhance survivability against contemporary air-defence systems, while the single-engine layout and shared components with the Su-57 should, in theory, lower life-cycle costs and simplify logistics. Compared to heavier twin-engine Russian fighters, a fleet of Su-75s could be fielded in larger numbers for the same budget, enabling more persistent patrols, air-policing missions and strike sorties, especially for air forces with limited resources. At the same time, Western assessments have highlighted open questions about the true level of stealth, sensor fusion and networking that the production aircraft will achieve, particularly relative to established systems like the F-35 or South Korea’s KF-21, underscoring that Checkmate’s promised advantages remain to be proven in service.
From a strategic perspective, Moscow positions the Su-75 as a pivotal asset for sustaining its presence in the global fighter aircraft market and for strengthening partnerships with states seeking alternatives to Western or Chinese platforms. Rostec consistently presents the aircraft as an export-focused solution, emphasizing its modular design, open avionics architecture, and compatibility with a wide array of precision-guided munitions tailored to customer requirements. Interest has reportedly emerged from regions including Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Furthermore, discussions on potential industrial collaboration, such as reported talks with Belarus regarding joint production, underscore the role of the Su-75 “Checkmate” as a vehicle for broader defense-industrial integration within the post-Soviet sphere. Nevertheless, the program unfolds under significant scrutiny: for prospective buyers, Russia’s capacity to deliver a fifth-generation fighter under sanctions, ensure long-term sustainment, and provide reliable access to critical technologies will weigh as heavily as the aircraft’s advertised performance metrics.
For the Russian Aerospace Forces, if it reaches serial production, the Su-75 is intended to complement the Su-57 by providing a more numerous, cheaper stealth platform capable of air superiority, deep strike and close-air-support missions. Sharing avionics, weapons and maintenance infrastructure between the two types would, in principle, allow Russia to build a layered fifth-generation fleet, with Checkmate taking on routine and export tasks while the heavier Su-57 focuses on specialised missions. In operational terms, a mature Su-75 could offer Russia and its partners a platform for penetrating modern integrated air-defence systems, executing precision strikes at long range and participating in network-centric air operations. All of these roles, however, hinge on the program’s successful completion of bench testing, flight trials, and weapons integration, as well as on the capacity of Russia’s industrial base to transition from prototypes to dependable series production.
The update delivered at Dubai Airshow shows that, despite delays and external pressures, Russia is determined to push the Su-75 Checkmate beyond the mock-up stage toward a flight-worthy prototype supported by structured bench testing and engine trials. If the timeline announced by Russian officials holds and a first flight occurs in early 2026, the program will enter a phase where its technical credibility, export attractiveness and strategic value can be judged on concrete test results rather than promises. For now, the move into bench testing marks a crucial signal to allies, competitors and potential clients that Moscow intends Checkmate to become a real contender in the crowded market for next-generation fighters, and not simply a symbol on an airshow stand.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
