The Sukhoi S-70 “Okhotnik,” the largest and heaviest Russian strike drone, crashed near Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region on October 5, 2024. The exact cause of the incident remains uncertain. In a video captured from the ground, a combat aircraft is observed launching a missile at the delta-wing unmanned air vehicle, resulting in its fall.
So what is known about this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)?
The S-70’s history can be traced back to August 2009, when it was made public that Sukhoi and MiG design bureaus had begun collaborative efforts to develop a heavy strike unmanned aerial vehicle. By July 2012, they designated Sukhoi as the main developer. MiG’s stealth combat UAV program, “Skat,” was suspended at that time, despite the fact that its model was displayed at the MAKS-2007 International Aerospace Salon in August 2007. In the interim, Sukhoi’s Su-57 prototypes were in the process of undergoing flight testing.
By the early 2010s, the Russian Ministry of Defense planned to create a heavy stealth reconnaissance and assault UAV that was capable of high speeds and autonomy, with a performance that was comparable to that of sixth-generation aircraft. The Russian Ministry of Defense anticipated developing this UAV by the late 2010s or early 2020s.
The Okhotnik’s initial flight prototype was nearing completion by 2018. The Novosibirsk Aviation Plant, a subsidiary of Sukhoi, built the Okhotnik demonstrator. Reports suggested that declassification had revealed the drone’s existence for the first time in June 2018.
It was observed that the UAV was highly integrated with the fifth-generation fighter. Reports indicated that a month later, the Okhotnik served as a prototype for a sixth-generation fighter, showcasing its artificial intelligence and autonomy. However, it would not be able to make independent strike decisions, as these decisions would be under human control.
As part of its testing program, the drone taxied down the runway of the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant in November 2018 at speeds of up to 200 km/h. The taxiing, acceleration, and stop were executed entirely autonomously.
Photos of the prototype appeared online back in 2019.
The Okhotnik was used for the first time in the conflict in June 2023.
The Okhotnik’s exact specifications are still classified. However, estimates place its length at 14 meters, its wingspan at 19 meters, and its takeoff weight at 25 tons. The “flying wing” configuration of the aircraft uses stealth materials and technology to reduce its radar and infrared signature.
According to reports, the drone has a flight range of 5,000 km and can achieve a supersonic speed of 1,400 km/h at low altitude. It is capable of reaching an altitude of 18 km.
It was believed that the drone could be equipped with a Kh-58 supersonic anti-radar air-to-ground missile (range: 260 km) in 2023 to suppress radar. It has the capability to deploy a subsonic low-altitude Kh-35 missile against naval targets. Furthermore, it could carry eight precision-guided KAB-250 explosives and four modified supersonic Kh-74M2 missiles.
In conjunction with the first S-70s, images of a T-50-3 prototype with a drone silhouette on its fuselage and rear fin became available online. It was later revealed that the Su-57 prototype was testing S-70 electronic systems.
It is believed that a formation of 20–30 Okhotnik drones, accompanied by two or three maneuverable aircraft, could cause substantial damage to an adversary’s infrastructure.
One of the closest Western analogs to the Okhotnik is the Northrop Grumman X-47B, a multi-role combat UAV, but it is no longer in production.
The future of the Okhotnik drone is uncertain, despite the fact that the Russian Ministry of Defense considers the project a priority and the first flight prototype was completed on schedule.
Serial production was anticipated for the latter half of 2024; however, it has not yet transpired. Rostec reported that the drone was still in the process of initial testing as of late 2023. Nevertheless, it was confirmed in June 2023 that the Okhotnik had been used for combat during the ongoing conflict.
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