russia is ready to accept any terms if it helps to sell the Su-57 Checkmate because nobody wants to buy “thin air” of an aircraft
Moscow continues to try and find at least one buyer for its Su-75 Checkmate fighter project, showcased with great fanfare in July 2021. Despite being designed primarily for export, the aircraft failed to gain any interest, particularly from African and Asian nations, the target customers of this effort.
The other day, the russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation published an open notice saying the Kremlin is “open to dialogue and cooperation with partners on this project in various formats of mutual interest,” as reported by russian media.
Considering the tendency in russian media to portray even routine visits to exhibition stands as interest and describe illusory contracts, these words mean they practically admit that no one has a genuine interest in the Su-75 Checkmate at all.
Moreover, at this point russia is trying to sell not even the aircraft itself but “thin air,” because according to russian trade minister Denis Manturov, the first Checkmate prototype “may be created by the end of 2025”.
In other words, he implies that Su-75 could perform its maiden flight in 2026, although, given the traditional delays in russian official development schedules, this deadline is prone to shifting further into the future. Next, there is added uncertainty of protracted testing phases, which can extend for years, if not decades.
Comparatively, the Su-57 made its maiden flight in 2010, with reports of commenced serial production dated 2019. Plans to use it as a replacement for Su-27 aircraft, including Su-30 and Su-35 modernizations, initially involved an order for 76 aircraft, yet the fulfillment timeline remains unclear. On top of that, the prospect of selling Su-57 to India, with almost full localization of production, so far had no success either.
Contrary to claims of the Su-75 Checkmate’s swift year-long development, only a scale model and promotional videos exist to date.
Selling a combat aircraft that may materialize in the 2040s faces additional hurdles, given the toxic reputation of russian weapons globally and the sanctions imposed on them.
Moreover, there are still concerns about whether the russian federation will be able to fulfill orders despite the ongoing large-scale war it started in Ukraine and whether it can ensure long-term maintenance of these fighter jets.
For reference: the Su-75 Checkmate is an aircraft that “aims to fill the niche that appeared due to the decommissioning of MiG-21 on the global market,” as exclusively explained to Defense Express by Ukrainian aircraft developer Oleksandr Los. Basically, it is a MiG-21 with improved stealthiness, digital systems, and precision-guided weapons integrated into its kit.
“Selling a combat aircraft that may materialize in the 2040s faces additional hurdles, given the toxic reputation of russian weapons globally and the sanctions imposed on them.”
There will still be the gullible in the world that will take huge bribes and buy this junk. The Armata tank is still to make an appearance. The SU 57 is invisible, but not in the stealthy way, it doesn’t exist.
Off topic: the comeback of the century!
Dave, soon to be Lord Cameron, is back; as Foreign Sec!
Janes Cleverly gets the Home Office.
Cammers has been brought back to attract voters from the centre and centre right.
He will be engaged fully with Ukraine policy. Zel can expect a visit sooner or later.
Last year, as a private citizen, he was driving a truck to Poland to deliver supplies for Ukrainian refugees.
“Last year, as a private citizen, he was driving a truck to Poland to deliver supplies for Ukrainian refugees.”
Nice! I salute such exemplary politicians as him.👍
Given how Russian weapons have performed in Syria and Ukraine, no one seems to be in the mood to buy anything they produce.
The Ukrainians have shown more than enough that buying mafia weapons is not a very good idea. Erdogoon had to learn the hard way.
Looks like Poopin’s wet dream got checkmated at the 3D model level. Ukraine has destroyed the 3 main exports of the spastic Moskali, oil, gas and arms. What’s left now? aluminum? There are no workers, they are all laying in Ukrainian sunflower fields