Russia is making a renewed push for its fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Su-75 "Checkmate," hoping to attract international customers, particularly India.
Recent updates to the aircraft, including an increased maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 26 tons and a planned upgrade to the AL-51FI engine, aim to make it a more competitive offering.
However, despite these improvements, the Su-75 faces an uphill battle in the Indian market, where the indigenously developed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is gaining momentum.
Both the Su-75 and AMCA now boast a 26-ton MTOW, placing them in the same weight class and suggesting comparable performance potential. However, the AMCA program has a significant head start.
With prototypes expected within the next few years, the AMCA is far closer to realization than the Su-75, which remains a conceptual design with no flying prototype. This developmental gap is a crucial factor for India, which seeks a readily available solution to its urgent fighter modernization needs.
The Su-75's planned engine upgrade to the AL-51FI, while promising enhanced performance and stealth capabilities, is another area where the AMCA appears to have an edge.
While details about the AL-51FI remain scarce, the AMCA program is actively exploring collaborations with established engine manufacturers like General Electric, lending greater credibility to its propulsion plans.
Russia has expressed keen interest in exporting the Su-75 to India, but the aircraft's lack of a tangible prototype and flight test data has made Indian defence circles hesitant. The Indian Air Force (IAF) prioritizes platforms that are either in production or nearing production readiness, making the Su-75's conceptual stage a major obstacle.
Furthermore, the AMCA program aligns with India's "Make in India" initiative, emphasizing self-reliance in defence production. The Su-75, as a foreign design, may struggle to meet this requirement. India's focus on indigenous development and the AMCA's progress reduce the likelihood of the IAF opting for an untested foreign fighter jet.
Despite these challenges, Russia is expected to showcase the Su-75's updated design and program advancements at Aero India 2025, hoping to address India's concerns. However, with no flying prototype to demonstrate, the Su-75 may struggle to compete against other fully developed and near-production-ready fighter jets that are likely to be present at the event.
The Indian fighter market is becoming increasingly competitive, with established players like Lockheed Martin and Dassault also vying for a share. The Su-75, while technologically advanced on paper, faces stiff competition from both indigenous programs and established foreign offerings. Whether it can overcome these challenges and convince India remains to be seen.
