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Russia Debuts New Two-Seat Su-57 Stealth Jet Targeting Foreign Buyers
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has publicly revealed a previously unseen two-seat version of its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet, marking the first known appearance of a tandem-seat modification of the aircraft.
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According to Russian military aviation sources on May 16–17, photos published by Fighterbomber blogger Ilya Tumanov showed a modified Su-57 with an elongated cockpit canopy for a second crew member. The aircraft reportedly completed early ground taxi trials.
According to Tumanov, the final designation of the aircraft has not yet been determined. “Will it be called Su-57D or Su-57UB, we’ll see. As an option—Su-57ED,” he wrote.
The Su-57, known by NATO as the “Felon,” is Russia’s flagship stealth fighter program developed by Sukhoi. The aircraft officially entered limited service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2020 following years of delays and production setbacks.
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The new two-seat configuration appears aimed primarily at export customers rather than domestic Russian operations. Another Russian military Telegram channel, Voyevoda Veshchayet, stated that “the two-seat modification is intended primarily for export.”
The emergence of the aircraft also revives elements of the abandoned Russian-Indian FGFA (Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft) program launched in the early 2010s between Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Under the original FGFA arrangement, India was expected to contribute avionics, navigation systems, cockpit displays, and self-protection systems, while Russia would handle the fighter’s airframe and core production. HAL’s participation was projected at roughly 25% of the program, which carried an estimated total value of $8–10 billion.
India formally withdrew from the project in 2018 after raising concerns about the Su-57’s stealth characteristics, avionics, radar systems, and sensor performance. Indian officials reportedly concluded that the aircraft did not meet the standards expected from a full fifth-generation fighter.
The appearance of the two-seat variant comes amid renewed Russian efforts to market the Su-57 abroad following India’s reported decision not to proceed with purchases of the American F-35A. New Delhi informed Washington it was not interested in acquiring the F-35, partly because of disagreements over local production requirements under India’s “Make in India” program.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported a long-range strike on Russia’s Shagol airbase in the Chelyabinsk region on April 25, targeting Su-57 and Su-34 aircraft located roughly 1,700 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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