The two-seat version of the Su-57 fighter will not only gain the function of controlling drones but also of developing combat artificial intelligence, which is currently being created by specialists at the Sukhoi Design Bureau. According to the enterprise's director, Mikhail Strelets, this is one of the key tasks that the two-seater is aimed at.
According to Strelets, the presence of a second operator cockpit allows for the implementation of technologies attributed to the sixth generation of aviation. This includes controlling highly intelligent systems, such as the heavy attack UAV S-70 "Okhotnik," as well as swarm and group systems. In this configuration, one pilot focuses on piloting and performing the combat mission, while the second focuses on coordinating the drones.
As Sukhoi Design Bureau chief pilot Sergey Bogdan previously noted, the two-seater significantly expands the capabilities of the aviation group through interaction with other aircraft. This is a fundamentally new stage in the development not only of the Su-57 itself but also of the entire tactical application of fighter aviation, where the aircraft transforms into a command center for drones.
Su-57 in conjunction with UAVs: what is already known
We have already thoroughly examined the topic of the two-seat Su-57 at various stages of its development. In February 2025, the editorial board analyzed OAK's patent for a two-seat variant and explained why a fifth-generation fighter needs a second pilot: among the versions considered were a combat trainer variant, a strike aircraft with a weapons operator, and a leader of a group of heavy drones.
Later, we reported that the main difference between the Su-57 and its predecessors was the ability to integrate with UAVs — in particular, with the heavy attack S-70 "Okhotnik" according to the "leader-follower" scheme. This particular link formed the basis of the airborne command post concept, which is now officially assigned to the two-seat variant.
In May 2026, Military Watch Magazine suggested that the two-seat Su-57D could surpass the basic variant in production volumes, drawing an analogy with the history of the Su-27 family, where two-seat modifications eventually became more widespread than the original aircraft.
Read more on the topic:
- Su-57 to be transformed into an aerial drone command center
- Two-seat Su-57D gained new capabilities for combat operations
- Su-57 fighter jet with artificial intelligence begins testing