November 23, 2025; (Updated November 25, 2025)

by Thomas W. Pohl

Scale models of the three variants of the Sukhoi Su-75 Chaeckmate that debuted at the 2025 Dubai Airshow

At the 2025 Dubai Airshow, Sukhoi displayed scale models of not one, but three varants of their Su-75 Checkmate 5th generation stealth fighter. The Su-75 made its initial debut on the world stage when Sukhoi unveiled a full-dcale mockup of their new fighter at the MAKS Airshow in 2021. The Su-75 was intended to compete on the export market with other lightweight stealthly fighters, such as the American F-35 Lightning II, the Chinese J-35 , the South Korean KF-21 Boramae and Turkish Kaan. Since then, the Su-75 has ungone some design changes. See our video on the Checkmate 2.0 to learn more about these design changes.

In addition to the baseline single-seat Su-75 Checkmate design. Sukhoi debuted a scale model of an unmanned version of the checkmate which they has previouly released artwotk for. This variant is inteneded to fufill the loyal wingman role. The third variant on display, a two-seat manned fighter, made its world debut at the airshow.

As a result of Russia's war in Ukraine with its shifting defense priorities and the international sanctions that followed, most believed that the Checkmate was dead and would never amount to anything besides vaporware despite Russian claims to the opposite. At the 2025 Dubai Airshow, Sergey Chemezov, head of Russia's state-run defense conglomerate Rostec, told media outlets that they were "still working on development of this aircraft. We need some time to get the real (Sukhoi prototype for test flights. Basically, we are almost at the stage of testing flights, and in the near future, we will be launching it into production. I think this is the beginning of 2026." Sergey Bogadan, Sukhoi's Cheif test pilot added in a seperate interview with Russia's state-run Channe One television station, "The aircraft is already on the shop floor, it is alreday being finalized, and there are already ceratian time plans. Therefore, with God's help, it should take place soon enough."

Specifications for the Su-75 that the UAC (Sukhoi's parent company) has provided at the airshow say the design has a maximum takeoff weight of some 57, 320 pounds (26,000 kilograms). It is said to be able to carry up to 16,314 pounds (7,400 kilograms) worth of air-to-air and/or air-to-ground munitions on an array of underwing hardpoints, as well as one inside three internal weapons bays. UAC has stated that the aircraft's top speed to be between Mach 1.8 and Mach 2 with an engine in the 32,000 to 36,000-pound thrust-class (14,500 to 16,500 kilogram-force). Size-wise, the design, as it was shown in 2021, is approximately 57 feet long and has a wingspan of 39 feet.

In a sperate announcement on May 21, 2025, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of Sukhoi, and the Belarussian defense industry officially launched discussions on the co-production of the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate. This strategic cooperation marks the revival of belarus' high-end aerospace manyfacturing capabilities, dormant since the dissolution of the Soviet Unon. Belarus' participation as both producer and buyer will reduce logistics costs and offer local employment and technology transfer. While no final contract has been signed as of may 2025, Belarus is widely expected to be the inaugural client, which would unlock serial production. Other nations reportedly interested in the Su-75 Checkmate include India, Algeria, UAE, and Vietnam, although none have formally committed.

Scale Models of the Unmanned Drone Variant of the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate

Comparison of Versions 1.0 and 2.0 of the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate

Follow The Stealth Channel on social media!