Russia's United Aircraft Corporation has flown a two-seat Su-57 prototype for the first time. The variant is designed for pilot training and as a command platform for coordinating manned and unmanned operations.
The two-seat version features an elongated cockpit canopy with a steep elevated position for a second crew member behind the pilot. This design could reduce pilot workload during high-intensity missions involving drone control, electronic warfare, and strike coordination.
The emergence of the two-seat Su-57D places Russia in an exclusive club, with China being the only other nation publicly associated with a two-seat fifth-generation fighter program. The project's intentions and potential export customers remain unclear, but it signals a significant evolution in Russia's fighter ambitions.
