The Russian defense weapons export company is promoting the latest generation of the Su-75 "Checkmate" stealth fighter in the Middle East. The Su-75 is essentially a scaled-down and simplified version of the Su-57 stealth fighter. It is equipped with the Product 30 engine, which gives it supersonic cruise capability and the ability to point the nose at a large angle of attack. To control costs, it does not use a vector thrust engine.
Overall, the Su-75 light stealth fighter focuses on supersonic cruise and super-maneuverability while also having stealth capabilities. It has high survivability and significantly reduced operating costs. At the same time, the aircraft has modular capabilities, allowing users to choose their own avionics configurations. Its maximum flight speed is 1.6 - 2 Mach, the maximum ceiling is 16,500 meters, the maximum range is 2,800 kilometers, and the maximum combat payload is about 6 - 7 tons. The Su-75 has up to 8 weapon hardpoints, a maximum flight life of 6,000 hours, an overhaul period of 1,500 hours, and a service life of 30 years. It can detect air targets with an RCS of 5 m² at a maximum distance of 160 kilometers, track 30 targets simultaneously, and engage 6 targets. For ground and sea targets, it can detect railway bridge - type targets at a maximum distance of 120 kilometers and destroyers at a maximum distance of 200 kilometers, and can track 2 sea targets simultaneously.
The overall performance of the Su-75 is quite average. With a maximum range of 2,800 kilometers, after loading ammunition and auxiliary fuel tanks, its actual combat radius may be at most 1,000 kilometers, which is relatively short. Russia only has 6 GLONASS satellite navigation systems with insufficient accuracy. Also, Russia lacks a systematic supply of high - precision small - diameter guided bombs. Therefore, the Su-75 is more suitable for air - to - air combat, and its ground - attack ability is relatively weak.
However, Russia's main export target is to capture the Middle East market. Most armies in the Middle East rely on missiles, drones, and long - range rocket launchers for fire suppression. The main tasks of fighter jets are to launch anti - radiation missiles to suppress the enemy's air defense systems and to compete for air superiority. At most, after suppressing the enemy's air defense forces and fighters, the Su-75 stealth fighters are sent out to launch FAB guided bombs to destroy the enemy's buildings and positions. The demand for high - precision air - to - ground strikes is not very high.
The key is that the price of the Su-75 is very cheap, only half that of the J - 10CE. Pakistan ordered 20 J - 10CE fighters for a total price of about $1.75 billion, including 20 J - 10CE fighters, 240 PL - 15 air - to - air missiles, 10 spare engines, etc. This is equivalent to about $88.7 million per J - 10CE fighter, while Russia prices the Su-75 at $30 - 35 million. If all ammunition and equipment are included, it is about $40 - 45 million per aircraft. Compared with the J - 10CE, it has a relatively large price advantage.
Some American analysts believe that the Su-75 stealth fighter has more advantages than the J - 10CE. The biggest advantage of the J - 10CE is its stronger air - to - air missiles. The PL - 10 and PL - 15 air - to - air missiles can attack targets at extreme angles. Moreover, they are produced in large quantities and are relatively inexpensive. Russia's R - 37M air - to - air missiles are more expensive and fewer in number. The Su-75 is the cheapest stealth fighter on the market. Most small and medium - sized countries, even in the event of local conflicts, usually engage in short - term and small - scale battles. The demand for air - to - air missiles is not very high. In most small - scale local conflicts, 50 air - to - air missiles are sufficient. In the Nagorno - Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the conflict between Israel and Iran, not a single air - to - air missile was launched.
Moreover, the improved Product 30 engine of the Su-75 has better quality and stealth capabilities, and it can be a cheap substitute for the Su-57 heavy - stealth fighter. Those countries that are equipped with Soviet or Russian fighter jets will find it very convenient to replace them with the Su-75. They do not need to order additional maintenance equipment, testing equipment, training systems, and some ammunition systems, nor do they need to upgrade airport facilities. The overall operating and purchasing costs are lower.
Currently, countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Syria, India, and Vietnam, which cannot purchase the F - 35 stealth fighter, may order the Su-75 light stealth fighter. In fact, Western countries and pro - American countries will only order American - made fighter jets and Western weapons. Most of the remaining countries do not have the ability to order modern fighter jets. The few countries that can afford to buy planes are the target markets for Chinese and Russian fighter jet exports. Therefore, the Su-75 is not only a strong competitor to the J - 10CE in the export market but also the biggest competitor to the J - 35.