Russia Courts India with Su-75 Checkmate Amid MiG-29 Replacement Push

In a bid to replace India's aging MiG-29 fleet, Russia has intensified its efforts to attract India's interest in its Su-75 Checkmate light fighter jet. The single-engine, lightweight stealth fighter, unveiled in 2021, is being positioned as the ideal successor to the MiG-29s, which India and several other nations are looking to replace.

Russia is particularly focused on India, a long-standing partner with a pressing need to upgrade its fighter jet fleet. A 2021 promotional video for the Checkmate, featuring pilots from potential buyer countries, including India, underscored Russia's strategic marketing approach.

Despite Russia's aggressive sales pitch, India has yet to commit to the Su-75. Several factors might be influencing India's cautious stance. The absence of a functional prototype is a key concern. While Russia claims a 2025 maiden flight for the redesigned Su-75, India may prefer a fighter jet with a proven track record.

Moreover, India is actively pursuing its own indigenous solution, the Tejas MkII, specifically designed to replace its MiG-29, Mirage-2000, and Jaguar fleets. This program aims to fulfill India's requirement for nearly 200 new fighter jets, potentially offering greater long-term benefits in terms of self-reliance and technology transfer.

Russia's renewed push to involve India likely stems from the lack of confirmed international buyers for the Checkmate program. High-profile marketing tactics, such as featuring pilots from potential buyer nations in promotional videos, highlight Russia's eagerness to secure partnerships.

Russia is offering the Checkmate at an attractive price point of $30-35 million per unit, with a cost per flight hour projected to be significantly lower than the Lockheed Martin F-35. The Su-75 boasts impressive specifications, with a designed maximum speed of Mach 1.8, a range of 2,800 km, and a maximum takeoff weight of 26,000 kg.

However, India's commitment to its indigenous defense programs, including the Tejas MkII and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), might influence its decision on the Su-75. With the Tejas MkII expected to replace a significant portion of its fighter fleet by 2035, and the AMCA slated to replace older Su-30MKI squadrons from 2040 onwards, India may prioritize self-reliance and domestic technological development.

While Russia's Su-75 Checkmate offers an attractive proposition on paper, India's decision will likely hinge on a careful evaluation of its operational capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with its long-term strategic objectives.

 

[PKPRS]

A big no.

Yes for 4th gen Rafale with 3rd gen engine.

 

[PKPRS]

Not worth especially when India has decided to source fighter jets internally.
Allot more funds , involve more pvt players for faster development. Importing of weapons should be restricted .

are we we ready to wait till 2050-60 for a 5th gen jet when both our enemies Pakistan and China will be flying 5th gen jets in 3 years from now.

 

[PKPRS]

The Checkmate is still in design phase and Russia lacks the money to develop it on its own. Say India invests today, it will take around 10 years to fully develop and certify the aircraft, another 5 years before it can be inducted in significant mumbers. And that's an optimistic view.
Also given the current sanctions, its doubtful if Russia can develop top quality avionics and sensors.

No Checkmate is a single engine version of SU-57 that is already in production, inducted in Russian Air-force and is battle tested in Ukraine and Syria.

 

[PKPRS]

Checkmate is best avoided

And wait for 30 years until our 5th gen jet becomes available when both our enemies fly hundreds of 5th jen jets in 3 years from now.

 

[PKPRS]

China can’t attack India because of the nuclear weapons we have. We have now activated a defence along the entire LAC now along the similar lines of the LOC with defensive weapons, radars, bunkers, drones, troop number increases etc.

We can’t assume blindly.

 

[PKPRS]

If the price is right we should instead join force to make a JV partnership to dodge future sanctions 😺🔥🔥🔥
this would help us against china

We can work on a deal to make both Su-75 and SU-57.

 

[PKPRS]

YES. UAE was interested before, Next, we can approach Brazil also for coalition co-productions of Su75.

Indonesia, Vietnam.

 

[Anonymus]

Highly unlikely.The actual price will be three or four times that.

still cheaper than rafale..

 

[Anonymus]

Remember INS Vikramaditya?

its Indian indian navy fault to acquired 30 year old used aircraft carrier buy the new ones and then complain

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Tejas MK2 is already better than Rafale, now it is time to make AMCA better than J-20 and FC-31, if we make SU-75, we will gain experience working on a 5th gen jet, that would be really helpful when to make AMCA.

If we makeSU-75 then the numbers should be huge. Larger their number, lesser number of AMCA will be produced. We need to shore up numbers for next 10-15 years till the time Tejas MK2 and AMCA are produced in large numbers.

 

[Double Tap]

den wot abt western sanctings???

they cannot sanction everyone , none will left

 

[Rajesh]

Cancel useless tedbf program then.....

Navy will only operate dual engine jets and if tedbf is cancelled then imagine what the French will do(suck the last drop of blood leaving the corpse alone) with the no of jets we require assuming rafale marine is the one they will be looking into.

 

[Double Tap]

Yes for 4th gen Rafale with 3rd gen engine.

and 250 million Euros per jet

 

[PKPRS]

If we makeSU-75 then the numbers should be huge. Larger their number, lesser number of AMCA will be produced. We need to shore up numbers for next 10-15 years till the time Tejas MK2 and AMCA are produced in large numbers.

No, Su-75 is single engine jet Vs AMCA twin engine, neither will affect the other, even having 2-3 squadrons of SU-57 until AMCA becomes available is a good idea.

 

[PKPRS]

There is NO any SU75 flying now dude.....

SU-75 is SU-57 with single engine.

 

[PKPRS]

Whatever jet we buy should be made in india with tot so that we don't have to depend on the OEM for weapons integration,upgrades and spare parts. Whether it is from Russia America or France all will loot us whenever they get a chance so better stay prepared. Can't find su 75's place unless we cancell our mk2 program and goes for a jv with Russia with all tot/ip along with the new engine( al51)or else no use going for one more type of aircraft when iaf is trying to reduce the no of types in its arsenal. If they offer the engine with a deal which we can't resist then it can also be beneficial for su-30 upgrades and lesser dependence for an engine from outside.

May be we can make more Tejas Mk1A fitted with GE-414 engine and skip Tjas MK2 altogether and instead make SU-75.

 

[Anant]

still cheaper than rafale..

Unlike the Rafale, the Su-75 doesn't actually exist. Oh, and chances are Russia will want any potential customer(s) to fund the project. So, you do that, and your per unit cost quite possibly doubles yet again, with little guarantee of success.

 

[Anant]

It will be rolled out next year and produced.

Yeah, not happening. Unless Russia has managed to get secretive funding, the Su-75 only exists as a set of designs and a wooden mockup. There is a long way before it becomes an actual prototype, let alone ready for production.

 

[Anant]

Even if it costs $120Mln 30x4, it is still worth for a 5th gen jet with a stealth IR suppressing engine.

And what makes you think that this engine (which is still under development) will be IR-suppressing?

 

[Anant]

Yes for a jet with stealth engine, Malaysia ordered 17 SU-57 yesterday, the single engine Izdeliye-30 that will go into SU-75 is (108KN Dry, 177 kN with after Burner) powerful than the total output of twin engine Rafale (50Kn dry, 75 with after burner, 150KN Total).

"Malaysia ordered 17 Su-57 yesterday". Funny that every single news source reports that they proposed the procurement of 17 Su-57s for a single squadron of 16 aircraft. That is tantamount to saying that the IAF ordered Rafales the day MMRCA was proposed.

Oh, and believe you me that once the Malaysians realise they'll be thrown under CAATSA and other such wonderful things, they'll retract and go for F-16s or KF-21s or something.