Emerging
May 26, 20261
Sukhoi chief pilot says twin-seat Su-57D will be in demand abroad
Russia’s Sukhoi chief test pilot said the twin-seat Su-57D fighter is likely to be in strong demand abroad, especially among foreign customers that need a training-capable fifth-generation aircraft. UAC said flight tests began on May 19, with Sergey Bogdan carrying out the first flight.
Rostec said the two-seat version could also help coordinate operations between manned and unmanned aircraft.
Quick Facts
- said the Su-57D will be in high demand abroad
- began flight tests of the Su-57D
- performed the aircraft's maiden flight
- said the two-seat version can support coordination of manned and unmanned aircraft
- Sergey Bogdan
The twin-seat Su-57D fifth-generation fighter will likely attract strong interest from foreign buyers, according to Sergey Bogdan, chief pilot of Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and the pilot who carried out the aircraft’s maiden flight. Speaking to TASS, Bogdan said the two-seat version is especially important for training and could be useful for customers that do not already operate Sukhoi aircraft.
Bogdan said the aircraft’s twin-seat configuration would make it easier to train pilots from scratch and to retrain them when needed. He added that the Su-57D is designed to retain virtually all of the characteristics of the single-seat version, which he said would make it effective as part of a combat unit.
The United Aircraft Corporation, part of the Rostec state technology group, announced on May 19 that it had begun flight tests of the Su-57D multirole fifth-generation fighter. Rostec said the first flight was carried out by Bogdan. The company also said the two-seat Su-57 can be used to coordinate combat operations involving a mixed group of manned and unmanned aircraft, creating a unified information and control space.
The Su-57D is a new variant of Russia’s Su-57 fighter family, and the latest comments from its test pilot suggest that export potential and training capabilities are central to its positioning.
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Why This Matters
The Su-57D’s twin-seat configuration could broaden its export appeal by addressing a practical buyer need: training fifth-generation pilots without relying on an existing fleet or advanced local infrastructure. Its reported ability to coordinate manned and unmanned aircraft also signals a potential battlefield role beyond basic fighter operations, which may matter to defense planners assessing next-generation airpower and procurement choices.
Timeline & Sources
May 19, 2026
WireUAC announced the start of flight tests for the Su-57D, and Sergey Bogdan carried out the first flight.
May 26, 2026
WireTASS published Bogdan's remarks saying the twin-seat Su-57D would be in demand abroad, especially among foreign customers.