Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate fighter jet remains without a flying prototype four years after its unveiling, according to defense industry analysts, as the country’s Su-57 program continues to struggle with limited production amid wartime resource constraints.
Su-75 development timeline slips
The Su-75 was first unveiled as a full-scale mockup at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. Four years later, no flying prototype has been produced, according to defense industry analysts.
At the November 2025 Dubai Airshow, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov said the single-engine stealth fighter is “almost at the stage of flight testing” and preparing for bench tests, with a prototype potentially flying in 2026.
The program has repeatedly missed development milestones since its 2021 debut, analysts said. Sukhoi originally targeted first flight in the mid-2020s, but the timeline has slipped.
Sanctions, supply chain disruptions, and Russia’s need to prioritize existing combat aircraft production for the Ukraine war have constrained the Su-75 program, according to industry reports. Defense analysts have described the program as at a “dead end” and criticized development progress.
Russia is marketing the Su-75 as a cost-effective, export-ready platform aimed at countries seeking advanced capability without the higher cost of twin-engine fighters, according to Russian officials.
Su-57 production remains limited
The Su-57, Russia’s operational fifth-generation fighter, faces production constraints despite what Russian officials describe as [“huge demand”](https://breakingdefense.com/2025/11/russian-official-claims-huge-demand-for-su-57-fighter-as-jet-makes-debut-at-dubai-airshow/#:~:text=The Su-57%2C also known,government profile of the plane.) for exports.
In November 2025, Russia announced delivery of the first two Su-57s to an unnamed foreign customer, marking the jet’s first export sale. Russian officials are making export pitches to India, offering technology access and phased production in what industry sources describe as “the most aggressive pitch in years”.
The Su-57 is receiving upgrades based on combat experience in Ukraine, according to Rostec, including new cockpit displays and export variants featuring two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles. Production numbers remain limited compared to Western fifth-generation fighters, according to defense analysts.
Wider aviation losses
Russia’s military aviation sector has sustained losses beyond fighter program challenges. Ukrainian strikes have destroyed experimental aircraft including the A-60 airborne laser platform and Tu-95MS strategic bombers, according to Ukrainian and Western defense sources.
Ukraine’s June 2025 Operation Spider Web destroyed 8-9 Tu-95MS bombers in a coordinated drone assault, according to Ukrainian Security Service sources. The strike represented a significant portion of Russia’s mission-capable Tu-95MS airframes, analysts said.
Ukrainian forces struck the Beriev plant in Taganrog in November 2025, a facility involved in Tu-95MS modernization and repair, according to Ukrainian military reports.
