After a considerable amount of hype, speculation and even leaks, Russia's answer to the West's Lockheed Martin F-35 fifth generation fighter has finally been unveiled.
The Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate was revealed at this year's MAKS airshow, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in attendance. The mock-up on display showed a stealthy single-engine design with a ventral air intake and internal weapons bay. According to United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Sukhoi’s parent company, the new aircraft will be able to carry a payload of up to 7,400 kg, which would include air-air-air and air-to-surface weapons, reach a speed of up to Mach 1.8, and be able to fly at sustained supersonic speeds. The Checkmate is also intended to be cheap to operate and easy to maintain, when compared with the F-35.