Su-57D twin-seat fighter jet can act as airborne command post

MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. The twin-seat fifth-generation Su-57D fighter jet could be used as an in-air command post for directing combat, giving a commanding officer a bird’s eye view of what's going on in the sky, Sergey Bogdan, chief pilot of the Sukhoi Design Bureau of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the Rostec state tech corporation), who took the aircraft out for its maiden flight, told TASS.

"Regarding the role of the second pilot for the Su-57D, I am convinced that in certain combat formations, especially during a major operation, it is essential to have a leader in the group who can make decisions directly in the air," he noted.

According to Bogdan, having an experienced commander in the crew will allow for more effective operations if there is radio interference and a more rapid response to the surrounding environment. "It’s one thing to command from the ground, when people may be thousands of kilometers away. In such a case, radio interference can occur, requiring switching between communication channels. But if a unit is flying and there’s a pilot with extensive experience among the pilots, they can perform certain functions and assist the pilot in the front cockpit, while also making decisions based on the situation they see," he added.

On May 19, it was announced that the United Aircraft Corporation began flight tests of the Sukhoi Su-57D multirole fifth-generation fighter. According to the state corporation, the first flight was performed by Hero of Russia Sergey Bogdan.

Rostec’s press service clarified that the two-seat Su-57 can be used to organize and control combat operations of a joint group of manned and unmanned aircraft, creating a unified information and control space.