What you need to know: Russia is marketing its Su-75 “Checkmate” stealth fighter to India, offering exclusive rights for local production, potentially sidelining Western defense contractors in India’s MRCA competition. The Su-75, presented as a cost-effective alternative to US stealth fighters, promises advanced avionics and AI, with a price tag of $30 million to $35 million.

-This possible agreement deepens ties between Moscow and New Delhi, crucial for the Russian economy in a context of sanctions, and strengthens India’s strategic capabilities. India’s decision is not without caution, given American pressure and its independent foreign policy.

-Russia’s strategic maneuvering secures its influence in Asia, while India gains potential export revenues and a stronger defense position.

Here is the Su-75 Checkmate for India? Maybe.

Russia has made headlines for its invasion of Ukraine, but Moscow is now setting its sights on a new target: India. Yes, you read that correctly. Russia prepares to invade India. But not with an army. Instead, Russia is engaged in what it calls a “marketing invasion” of India. And the product that Russia sells to New Delhi is The Su-75 “Checkmate” from the Sukhoi Design Bureau.

Next year, Sukhoi will take pride of place at the Aero India 2025 show. According to several sources, Sukhoi has offered India exclusive rights to produce the Su-75 locally. India, a rising and dynamic great power, will then be able to sell its variant of the Russian Su-75 to other countries. In essence, Russia is empowering India’s defense industry, even at the expense of Russia’s other friend. “without limits” China.

What is the Su-75?

The Su-75 is meant to be Russia’s answer to America’s superiority in stealth fighters. Sukhoi claims that the Checkmate is the most affordable version of Western stealth technology. Indeed, the Su-75 is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter. Its supporters claim the bird has a top speed of around Mach 1.8, with a range of 1,864 miles as well as an operational ceiling of 54,100 feet. These birds can carry up to 7.4 tonnes of weapons which are a mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. The weapons themselves are kept in internal bays (similar to American F-22A Raptor) to increase the stealth capabilities of the aircraft.

Additionally, Russian sources say the Su-75 features artificial intelligence (AI) enhancements for the pilot, advanced avionics, and a technology suite that includes sophisticated air-centric warfare capabilities. network. Unlike the American F-22A Raptor (which is not available for export) or F-35 Lighting II (which is for sale), the Su-75 Checkmate is apparently much more affordable. Sukhoi insists these birds will only cost between $30 million and $35 million.

The F-35, by comparison, costs between $82.5 million per factory and $102.1 million (depending on which variant you want).

Proceed with caution

For its part, India Air Marshal Anil Khosla asked the domestic public at the beginning of the year to be careful before making a decision regarding the Su-75 tender. This is because India, since its independence in 1947, has jealously guarded its sovereignty. He does not want to be seen as a proxy for a great power. At the same time, India has maintained close relations with the Russians since the 1940s, which include the sharing of military technologies. Moscow values ​​this long-term relationship.

Indeed, in the 1990s, the guru of Russian foreign policy, Eugene Primakov, informed Russian political leaders – including Vladimir Putin – favored keeping India as a strategic partner (citing India as one of the main components of the “strategic triangles” that Russia needed to maintain to retain its global power after the collapse of Soviet Union). Putin took this advice to heart. And the Indians, despite their desire to get closer to the United States (due to China’s growing threat to India), have maintained this close relationship.

In fact, the Biden administration has sought to punish India for continuing to trade and maintain stable diplomatic relations with Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This short-sighted decision by Washington has complicated previously very promising new relations with New Delhi, particularly with regard to the use of India as a counterweight to Beijing. Even though India has modulated its relations with Russia, it will never abandon these ties. And the Russians know it. Thus, Moscow is now trying to further incentivize New Delhi by promising a significant technology transfer in the form of the Su-75.

Russia advances skillfully

This is a shrewd move by Russia, which knows that its arms exports, along with its commodities, are one of the few things keeping Moscow from a successful economic blockade by Russia. pro-Ukrainian West.

At a time when New Delhi was beginning to turn to Western countries to export arms, such as with Indian Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Competition (MRCA)the introduction of the Su-75 deal could destroy this opportunity for Western defense companies, such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Saab or the Eurofighter consortium (all of which are competing to win this potential contract on a maximum of 114 Indian fighters). ).

Russia is skillfully playing its card to ensure that it remains a key player in Eurasia, even in the face of increasing Western sanctions – which it has so far managed to endure. The Su-75 deal will guarantee Moscow’s survival and financing of its war machine.

In return, India gets a new product that will strengthen its own strategic position in the region and allow New Delhi to in turn sell its excess capacity to other countries. It is a win-win situation for India and Russia. And a major loss for the West. Again. But will it happen? We’ll see.

About the author:

Brandon J. Weicherta national security project of national interest analystis a former congressman and geopolitical analyst who contributes to The Washington Times, Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is available for purchase wherever books are sold. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

Image credit: Creative Commons.