A Russian Su-57 Felon flies during the MAKS Air Show in 2015. Russia has recently developed a two-seat variant of the Su-57, but it is not entirely clear why. (Shutterstock/Vladimir Vozdvizhenskiy)

The Twin-Seat Su-57 Is Real—but Who Is It Really For?

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It seems far more likely that a twin-seat Su-57 is intended for use as a trainer on the single-seat variant than as a combat aircraft with a weapons systems officer. 

Nearly five years ago, Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau announced that it was developing a two-seat variant of its Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) as part of an effort to boost export demand. In June 2021, Rostec also suggested it would be the world’s first two-seat fifth-generation stealth fighter.

“Let us note that no country in the world has two-seat fifth-generation fighters. The Sukhoi may become the first one,” the state-owned military industrial conglomerate said in a statement to Russian state news agency TASS.

In July of that same year, Russian officials also announced that the twin-seat variant would be used to control swarms of the Sukhoi S-70 “Okhotnik” (Russian for “Hunter”) stealthy heavy........

© The National Interest