Russia said a two-seat version of its Su-57 stealth fighter has completed its test flight. First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov confirmed the flight in a comment to reporters, according to state media Ria Novosti.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “This aircraft, developed proactively by our aircraft manufacturers, will not only boast unique combat capabilities, but also the functionality of a combat training aircraft and the capabilities of a combat control aircraft,” Manturov said. The new version is designated Su-57D – differing from the standard Su-57 and the Su-57E unveiled at foreign air shows.
The patent for the two-seater was registered in November 2023 by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the plane’s manufacturer.In the patent, the company outlined the technical specifications of the new design, as well as its role and capabilities, namely that it’s an aerial command center capable of launching and/or controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can carry bombs and other combat aircraft.It is unclear if the jet that completed the test flight includes any of the intended capabilities.UAC CEO Vadim Badekha also hinted that the Su-57D is intended for exports, confirming speculation at the time.“We continue to work on improving and expanding the capabilities of our most advanced fifth-generation aircraft system. I am confident that the two-seat version of the aircraft will significantly contribute to its success in international markets,” Badekha was quoted as saying in UAC’s update.
