Sukhoi 57D 2-Seat 5G Fighter Makes Debut

Russia's new Sukhoi-57D fighter completed its first flight in May 2026, marking the debut of the world's first two-seat fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The Sukhoi-57 was originally developed as a single-seat stealth fighter for air superiority and strike missions. The aircraft was flown by Sukhoi chief test pilot Sergei Bogdan, kicking off the test program for the new fighter. The new Sukhoi-57D introduces a second crew station, making it the first two-seat fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the world. According to Russian officials, the additional crew member is intended to expand the aircraft's operational role beyond conventional combat missions. Rostec says the aircraft can serve not only as a trainer and a standalone combat platform, but also as a command and control aircraft, capable of coordinating operations with crewed and uncrewed systems. The company says the second crew member could help manage information from multiple sources while directing groups of drones operating alongside the fighter. According to United Aircraft Corporation, the two-seat version will also be available for export. President Vladimir Putin also confirmed that Russia was ready to supply the Sukhoi-57 to India.