Russia's state defense corporation Rostec announced on Telegram that the two-seat Su-57D fifth-generation fighter jet will control groups of combat unmanned aerial vehicles during operational missions.
The state company stated that the inclusion of a second cockpit allows the fighter to function as an airborne command post for drones. Rostec added that the two-seat Su-57D will also be utilized for pilot training, enabling aviators to practice piloting modes and flight maneuvers that cannot be reproduced on ground-based flight simulators.
In addition to pilot instruction and drone command, the two-seat aircraft will serve as a platform to test combat artificial intelligence. According to Rostec, specialists from the United Aircraft Corporation are developing the new artificial intelligence system specifically to be trialed on board the twin-seat variant.
Airborne command post and pilot training
The Su-57 is Russia's primary fifth-generation multirole fighter jet, designed to combine stealth capabilities, high maneuverability, and advanced integrated avionics for air defense and ground-strike operations. Fifth-generation aircraft represent the most modern class of military combat planes, built to minimize radar visibility and process complex sensor data in contested airspace. The twin-seat variant, designated the Su-57D, introduces a co-pilot or weapons systems officer station, transforming the platform into a tactical control center for autonomous systems.
State corporation Rostec is Russia's central defense and industrial holding company, overseeing hundreds of engineering, technology, and military manufacturing enterprises across the country. Its aviation subsidiary, the United Aircraft Corporation, incorporates major historic aircraft design bureaus including Sukhoi, which originally developed the Su-57 platform for the Russian military.
Role in air superiority
The announcement regarding the Su-57D's expanded capabilities follows statements made in August by Colonel General Sergei Kobylash, commander of the Air Force and deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Kobylash described the Su-57 as the main element for achieving air superiority in military operations.
The Russian Aerospace Forces manage the nation's military aviation and air defense branches. Modern air warfare increasingly relies on unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, for reconnaissance and precision strikes. Integrating combat artificial intelligence and multi-drone control into manned fighter cockpits is intended to reduce pilot workload while coordinating group tactics in modern aerial warfare.
