Russia Flies Rebuilt Su-57 Prototype in Two-Seat Configuration
The rebuilt fighter is pitched as a trainer and mission commander for mixed crewed and uncrewed operations, officials said.
- On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Russia's United Aircraft Corporation conducted the maiden flight of its two-seat Su-57 prototype, with test pilot Sergei Bogdan at the controls in a sortie officials described as proceeding normally.
- The Sukhoi Design Bureau developed the variant to boost export demand, as foreign customers lack the institutional training infrastructure that Russian crews access domestically; Moscow pitched the aircraft to New Delhi throughout 2026.
- Analysts identified the prototype as bort number '055 Blue,' an existing airframe modified to accommodate a second crew member; the tail logo depicts the S-70 Okhotnik, indicating the fighter will control swarms of these stealthy drones.
- Russia's final designation for the Su-57 remains undecided, with blogger Ilya Tumanov noting it could be named Su-57D or Su-57UB, while China unveiled the combat-focused twin-seat J-20S in 2024.
- India has not indicated whether it will accept Moscow's offer, and Russia continues to face production struggles with the base-model Su-57, leaving the operational timeline for the two-seat variant uncertain.
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14 Articles
Russia flies rebuilt Su-57 prototype in two-seat configuration
Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation confirmed the new Su-57 prototype’s maiden flight, with test pilot and Hero of Russia Sergei Bogdan at the controls in a sortie described by officials as proceeding normally in accordance with its test plan. Denis Manturov, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister, announced the milestone, describing the aircraft as a platform combining […]
The States reviewed the Su-57D from Russia and decided to criticize
The American edition of The War Zone reacted to the appearance of a two-seat version of the fifth-generation Russian fighter, designated Su-57D. According to Western experts, the creation of such a modification is primarily aimed at exporting and controlling drones.
It is only the second fighter jet of the 5th generation worldwide, which has room for 2 people.
Russia has published a video to show the first flight of a new variant of its Su-57 cover jet. The machine will be able to better coordinate drone operations in the future, among other things.
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