RuAviation

The development of the Su-75 Checkmate light tactical fighter of the fifth generation has reached a sufficient stage of readiness, which makes it possible to consider further development of the programme as promising, and one can look at the future of this aircraft complex with optimism, Sergei Korotkov, general designer and deputy director general of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), told RIA Novosti.

According to him, the Su-75 concept envisages integration of the complex into a system of interacting aircraft, rather than just creating a separate aircraft. At the moment, UAC has requests for the purchase of such machines from potential customers. The assessment of market demand for fighters of this class confirms the feasibility of the project, Sergey Korotkov noted.

In early September 2024, Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport, said at the Egypt International Airshow that several Middle Eastern and African states were interested in the Checkmate fighter. Interested partners have been given proposals for the project, he told RIA Novosti.

UAC shows Su-75 Checkmate aircraft model with modified air intake

Sergey Korotkov also pointed out that all engineering resources currently available to UAC are involved in the implementation of the Su-75 project. Such flexibility is due to the approved intra-corporate work plans.

‘There is such a policy within the corporation that it does not matter what kind of projects they are: Tupolev, Ilyushin or Sukhoi, today we can freely move engineering personnel not within the framework of contractual relations, but within the framework of those plans that have been approved by the aircraft corporation,’ the UAC general designer specified.

The sixth-generation aircraft will appear by 2050, work on it is underway

The development of the Su-75 light tactical fighter may become a step towards the sixth generation of combat aircraft. The Sukhoi Design Bureau is creating a platform that allows to radically change the aircraft’s functionality without changing its transport characteristics. UAC patented this universal design at the end of 2023. Depending on the customer’s requirements, it provides for the possibility of installing specialised head units at the aircraft construction stage.

Such modular head units will be designed to fulfil different tasks. For example, a single-seat cockpit for a manned aircraft, a two-seat crew cabin or a head end for an unmanned aircraft. Thanks to this system, the aircraft can fulfil different tasks without changing its basic design and at an acceptable cost.