Russia's Twin-Seat Su-57 Fighter Jet Makes Its Debut

Reference News Network reported on May 21 According to the website of "Russian Newspaper" on May 18, photos of the new two-seat version of the Su-57 fighter jet have surfaced online. From the photos, it is clear that this is not a new model made "from scratch," but rather a modification of the T-50 prototype. The accurate name for this new model may be T-50D.

The emergence of the two-seat version is not entirely unexpected. As early as the end of 2023, the United Aircraft Corporation of Russia applied for a patent for the two-seat version. The patent drawings quickly circulated online. Earlier this year, there were reports that India intended to localize the production of Russian fifth-generation fighter jets within its territory. Some sources claim that New Delhi only wishes to procure the model designated as "D" (i.e., the two-seat version).

It is generally believed that the two-seat version is used for training pilots to operate the relatively complex Su-57 series aircraft. However, in reality, converting the Su-57 into a two-seat trainer is indeed a rather unforgivable luxury. This would compromise the combat capabilities of the fighter jet. Moreover, considering the avionics, materials, and engines used in the two-seat version, there would be almost no cost savings compared to the mass-produced single-seat variant. Even the financially robust United States has abandoned the two-seat trainer version of the F-22, let alone the F-35. So, what is the actual purpose of the two-seat Su-57?

The answer to this question lies at the tail of the aircraft. Although the clarity of the publicly released photos is not high, careful observation reveals a rather striking pattern on the vertical tail. This is a silhouette combination of the Su-57 and the S-70 "Hunter" drone. This pattern combination indicates that the T-50D will participate in drone integration and testing projects.

According to a report from the American "The War Zone" channel on May 18, photos have emerged that are suspected to be of the previously undisclosed two-seat variant of the most advanced and powerful Su-57 fighter jet currently in service in Russia.

This is apparently the first publicly released photo of the two-seat Su-57, published on the "Fighter Bomber" channel of the "Telegram" app, which has close ties to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The account also stated that this aircraft has now entered the ground taxi testing phase.

The most noticeable modification of the aircraft is the redesign of the front fuselage, featuring a tandem two-seat cockpit. Similar to the Su-30, the rear seat position is significantly higher than the front seat, providing the rear occupant with a better forward view.

The background of the photo has been blurred, making it impossible to determine the location of the shoot. Such testing work is usually conducted at the Zhukovsky Flight Test Center near Moscow, which is the main testing base for Russian aviation vehicles.

Reports indicate that this new Su-57 model has been named Su-57D or Su-57UB, but this has not been officially confirmed. In the Russian aviation naming system, the suffix D generally represents a long-range variant, while UB denotes a combat trainer variant.

There are opinions suggesting that the two-seat Su-57 may be modified from the existing single-seat Su-57 prototype.

The Sukhoi Group's move may be aimed at introducing a two-seat combat version of the Su-57 to replace the Su-30SM/M2 two-seat aircraft currently in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Su-30 series is widely used in the Russian Aerospace Forces, balancing long-range air defense interception and ground attack missions. Russia has also placed great importance on the combat advantages brought by an additional pilot in a two-seat aircraft.

In addition, the two-seat Su-57 will also operate in coordination with unmanned aerial vehicles, primarily the S-70 "Hunter"-B flying wing unmanned attack aircraft developed by Sukhoi.

In the manned and unmanned combat grouping mode, the second pilot can act as a "mission commander," significantly enhancing efficiency. In this scenario, they sit in the rear cockpit of the Su-57, assisting in controlling unmanned combat equipment and coordinating tactical planning on the front line.

The two-seat Su-57 may provide the Russian Aerospace Forces with a multifunctional platform: integrating long-range air defense, ground attack, drone control, tactical training, and multiple other uses into one. (Translated by Li Ran and Guo Jun)