Russi Twin-Seat Su-57: New photos and reports from Russian aviation channels suggest that Russia has started taxi tests for a twin-seat version of the Su-57 stealth fighter. The jet has a longer cockpit canopy and a second seat placed behind the pilot, which makes it look a lot like the Su-30 layout. The first image was shared by the Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber, and writers at The Aviationist and Aerospace Global News said the picture appears to show a real taxiing prototype.
The aircraft has not been officially named yet, but Russian military aviation accounts have already floated three possible labels: “Su-57D”, “Su-57UB”, and “Su-57ED”. In the leaked image, most markings were blurred out. Still, researcher Andreas Rupprecht said the airframe carries the bort number “055 Blue”, which may mean Russia used and modified an older prototype instead of building a completely fresh jet from zero.
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Two Seats
A twin-seat fighter is not just about carrying one more person. The rear crew member can help split the work in a hard mission. The front pilot flies the jet and handles the fight. The back-seat officer can deal with targeting, sensors, weapons, and other heavy tasks. Aerospace Global News said the second seat could also fit Russia’s growing manned-unmanned teaming idea, where one crew member directs drones and manages battle data while the jet moves deep into danger.
That is why many analysts think the twin-seat Su-57 is being shaped as more than a trainer. It may become a flying command post for drone warfare. Reports link this idea to Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik-B drone work. One crew member can keep eyes on the sky while the other guides unmanned aircraft, electronic warfare tools, and future strike missions. The aircraft is still in an early testing stage, and no service date has been announced.
Why India is Paying Close Attention?
This new Su-57 matters a lot for India too. The old Russian-Indian FGFA project was meant to create a fifth-generation fighter with a two-seat setup for India, but India withdrew from the programme in 2018 after long worries about cost, stealth performance, engines, and delay. Russia offered in February 2025 to make Su-57s in India with full technology transfer, using Indian production lines if New Delhi agreed.
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That is why the fresh twin-seat idea is getting so much attention in India now. The country still wants a strong stealth fighter path, and the state-run AMCA project is still under development. The new Russian jet could pull old questions back into the room, especially about joint production, local manufacturing, and how much control India would get over the final aircraft.
The Engine
Some open-source reports say the twin-seat Su-57 is expected to use the AL-51F1 engine, also known as Izdeliye 30, so it can keep its speed and supercruise ability even with the extra crew weight. That detail fits the larger idea behind the jet. Russia does not seem to want just a training plane. It looks more like a smarter battlefield machine built for drones, sensors, and long-range missions.
