LIMA 2025: Russia integrates Su-57 with AI-assistance system

The Sukhoi Su-57 displayed at Aero India 2025. (Janes/Rahul Udoshi)

Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is integrating an artificial intelligence (AI) assistance system to support human pilots flying its Sukhoi Su-57 ‘Felon' multirole, single-seat stealth fighter aircraft. The system will also be offered for export, a Rosoboronexport official has said.

Speaking to Janes during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2025 in Malaysia on 20 May, the official said that the AI assistant is designed to support a human pilot during routine flight operations and in combat scenarios.

“The system [is designed to] provide tips to the pilot in specific ... situations and during tactical moments,” the Rosoboronexport official said.

While the official could not comment on test-related activities of the AI system in the aircraft, the official added that the system would also be “offered for export as well”.

According to a source in the UAC, the company had planned to implement a “second electronic pilot system” in the Su-57 from the early days of the programme.

“The system is designed to assist the human pilot by taking over aspects of routine flight operations, such as waypoint navigation and flight systems management,” the UAC source said, adding that this will allow the human pilot to focus on more critical tasks during combat scenarios, such as weapons launch.

The facility “for release of weapons remains with the human pilot”, the source added.

The AI-assistance system is also customisable, depending on the needs of the pilots. “Experienced pilots may need minimal use of the AI. However, new pilots to the Su-57 can make greater use of the AI's functions. This is all up to the customer,” the UAC source said.

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