"acting as an airborne command post for network-oriented operations of mixed groups of aircraft." — a phrase used in Russian media to describe a planned two-seat Su-57.
New imagery surfaced on Fighterbomber Telegram
Photographs that "appear to show" a previously unreported two-seat version of the Sukhoi Su-57 surfaced on the Fighterbomber Telegram channel, an account described as having close ties to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The same account claimed the aircraft is undergoing taxi trials. The single publicly available photo shows a redesigned forward fuselage and a tandem two-seat cockpit; its blurred background prevents independent location, though the article notes Zhukovsky near Moscow as the typical locus for experimental testing.
Design changes: tandem cockpit, raised rear seat, and distinctive tail emblems
The most conspicuous modification is a tandem cockpit broadly similar to two-seat Flanker family types such as the Su-30 and the Su-27UB: the rear seat sits substantially higher than the front seat, improving the rear crewmember's forward view. Observers have pointed to tail markings on the photographed airframe—reported as tail number 53—that include silhouettes interpreted as the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B, the Su-75 Checkmate, and an S-71 air-launched missile, alongside other symbols. Commentary in the coverage links those emblems to prior Su-57 prototype tail markings tied to research-and-development efforts.
Designation questions and a 2023 patent with a similar illustration
Some Russian reports and commentary have suggested the two-seat type might be designated Su-57D or Su-57UB, though the story describes those designations as unconfirmed; in the Russian aerospace context the suffix "D" would normally denote long range, while "UB" signifies a combat trainer. The article also recalls a 2023 patent for a "multifunctional two-seat low-observable tactical aircraft" whose published plans and an Izvestia infographic closely resemble the newly published photo, and which explicitly described a role as an airborne command post while also noting training utility.
Roles signalled: airborne command post, loyal-wingman controller, and Su-30 successor
Russian media cited by the article said the planned two-seat Su-57 would serve as an airborne command post for network-oriented operations of mixed aircraft groups. The write-up links that concept to the Su-57 working alongside loyal-wingman drones—specifically the S-70 Okhotnik-B—where a rear-seat crew member could act as a "mission commander" coordinating uncrewed systems. The piece also frames a two-seat Felon as potentially aimed at the same long-range air defense and strike roles long assigned to the twin-seat Su-30SM/M2, suggesting a possible effort to promote the two-seat Su-57 as a successor to those twin-crew Flanker variants.
Production context, engine plans, and performance trade-offs
The article places the two-seat appearance against a constrained production backdrop: only 76 Su-57s are reported to be on order. It notes a longstanding Russian plan for a second-stage Su-57M, to be powered by the AL-51F-1 (izdeliye 30) turbofan replacing the current AL-41F-1, and references Sukhoi's unveiling of a new thrust-vectoring nozzle intended to improve low-observable features. At the same time, the piece warns that adding a second seat will most likely reduce internal fuel volume, and could degrade speed, turning capability and frontal radar signature—trade-offs the article connects to the broader point that the Su-57 was "designed around a different philosophy" and is "not a very low-observable aircraft" by the article's assessment.
What this means for the Russian Aerospace Forces, Sukhoi, and export customers
- Russian Aerospace Forces: A two-seat Su-57 could provide a platform for networked command roles, long-range air defense and strike missions, and more advanced crewed–uncrewed teaming with S-70 drones, if the type reaches operational use.
- Sukhoi / United Aircraft Corporation: The maker may combine the two-seat layout with planned Su-57M improvements to offer a multi-role option or a direct successor to twin-seat Su-30 variants; the aircraft also appears intended to broaden export appeal.
- Export customers: The article points to historical Indian interest in a two-seat variant (the cancelled PMF/FGFA effort) and notes Algeria as the only country to confirm purchases of the Su-57E so far, reportedly receiving two aircraft of a possible 14—factors that would shape demand for a two-seat export model.
For now, the photograph marks a concrete shift: a two-seat Felon has surfaced publicly, patent material from 2023 and tail emblems hint at an intended role tied to loyal-wingman drones and command duties, and observers are left with practical questions about designation, performance impact, and whether serial production or exports will follow. While the initial image provoked immediate commentary, the article concludes by noting that further imagery and technical details will be needed to clarify the aircraft's planned operational role and production prospects.
https://www.twz.com/air/two-seat-variant-of-russias-su-57-felon-fighter-materializes
