Introduction

The Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate, also designated as the Light Tactical Aircraft, is a single-engine, stealth fighter aircraft under development by Sukhoi for export and for the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Sukhoi Design Bureau also designates the aircraft as T-75.

A static non-flying prototype was unveiled at the 2021 MAKS air show with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in attendance. The Checkmate's maiden flight was first scheduled for 2023 and then slipped to 2024, with initial deliveries planned for 2026–2027. The Checkmate is designed to be low cost and for export, and may compete with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and Shenyang FC-31 aircraft of the same light to medium-weight category. Production is forecast to be 300 planes over 15 years.

According to the chief executive of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, the LTS Checkmate is expected to cost US $25–30 million each.

On 14 November 2021, it was reported that the production of several prototypes of the Checkmate had begun at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant, where the Sukhoi Su-57 is manufactured.

Su-75 Checkmate development could be delayed due to international sanctions on Russia caused by the Russo-Ukrainian War, and Russia could not import semiconductors and high-tech machining equipment from the European Union. The potential export sales also stalled because Russia cannot trade using U.S. dollars.

On 16 August 2022, United Aircraft Corporation reported that they plan to build four prototypes of the Su-75 Checkmate, with flight tests planned for as early as 2024.

In July 2023, analyst Maya Carlin of the Center for Security Policy wrote that sanctions against Russia, due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine had slowed or stopped the aircraft's development. In particular noted was the loss of funding from the United Arab Emirates due to sanctions, which had been sustaining the Su-75's development, as the UAE seeks instead to acquire F-35s, with potential support from Israel.

On 13 November 2023 Rostec announced that preparations had begun to place the SU-75 fighter into pre production.

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