Russia is using its presence at Dubai Airshow 2025 to signal that the long-delayed Su-75 Checkmate fighter program remains active, telling international buyers that the single-engine stealth aircraft is nearing its first flight as development continues under significant wartime pressure.
Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov said the first prototype is “almost at the stage of flight testing,” offering the clearest progress report since Sukhoi unveiled a full-scale mockup of the aircraft at the 2021 edition of the Dubai Airshow. Chemezov delivered the update through an interpreter, framing the Su-75 as a cost-effective, export-ready platform aimed at countries seeking advanced capability without the higher price of other twin-engine fighters.
The Checkmate design is positioned as a complement to the Su-57, which is also appearing in Dubai for its Middle Eastern debut. Russian officials are using the show to reinforce the country’s presence in the international fighter market, where Western suppliers continue to dominate recent sales.
TASS, Russia’s state news agency, reported that the Su-75 is preparing to begin bench tests—an essential phase before taxi trials and initial flight. The TASS update notes the prototype has moved into more advanced ground-test work, despite heavy strain on Russia’s defense-industrial base from ongoing wartime aircraft production.
The Su-75 program has been slowed by sanctions, supply challenges, and Russia’s need to prioritize existing combat fleets over new development. Sukhoi originally aimed for a first flight in the mid-2020s, but the timeline slipped as national resources shifted toward supporting front-line operations in Ukraine. Chemezov acknowledged that a clean-sheet fighter typically requires 10-15 years of development, and noted that the Su-75 “only recently started this work” in earnest.
Even so, Russia used its presence in Dubai to remind potential buyers that the Checkmate remains part of its export portfolio. The model on display sits alongside the Su-57 in the Russian pavilion, and officials described the aircraft as a flexible, lower-cost fighter aimed at countries that want advanced capability without the price of a heavyweight platform. Media reports pointed to the UAE and India as markets Moscow hopes to engage, though no deals have surfaced.
The greater challenge remains funding and production capacity. Russia previously sought foreign investment for the Checkmate program, but securing external financing has become more difficult since the invasion of Ukraine. Without stable long-term funding, the program risks remaining a prototype effort rather than progressing to serial production.
Chemezov said he believes the aircraft “will be in demand” once development advances, citing interest from nations looking for a lower-cost stealth platform.
Sukhoi has not released a public target date for first flight, and Russia has not identified any confirmed export buyers. For now, the next key milestone is the start of flight testing, which will follow bench and ground trials now underway.
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