A Russian stealth heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has been downed above Ukraine, with footage circulating on social media appearing to confirm the hit.
As can be evidenced from footage on social media, remains of the drone have been found by Ukrainian soldiers on the ground.
Militarnyi argues that this concerns the S-70 Okhotnik-B (”hunter”) stealth drone. Reportedly, it was shot down near the town of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk Oblast.
Earlier reports indicated that the downed aircraft was a Russian Sukhoi Su-25 jet aircraft. However, as of this writing, it seems that it might indeed have been a S-70 Okhotnik-B. Additionally, reports have been made that the S-70 Okhotnik-B lost control and was shot down by a Russian fighter jet.
Reports now claim this was Russian “Hunter” Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B UCAV. https://t.co/NScQonYXUq pic.twitter.com/C3bVKOn1rZ
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 5, 2024
“The plane that was catching up with the second one was flying on 2 jet engines, the one that went down was flying on one and had the full tanks,” said the Ukrainian military.
This could explains its appearance behind the front line and the hasty actions of the fighter jet, which launched an air-to-air missile at the already uncontrolled drone.
The Okhotnik program has been under development at the Russian Sukhoi Design Bureau since 2011. According to the developers’ plans, the UCAV will be used to strike the enemy targets without entering the area of operation of its air defense systems of the manned aircraft.
The vehicle will be able to carry missiles and air bombs with a total weight of up to 2.8 tons in its internal weapons compartments. Its length is 14 meters, wingspan is 19 meters, and takeoff weight is over 20 tons.
Defense Express notes that it is possible that Russian forces have decided to test their prototypes directly on the battlefield. The outlet argues that the Okhotnik is probably not yet in mass production. Sources indicate that Russia as of today only has three prototypes of these unmanned aerial vehicles, with three more in development.
Furthermore, the outlet notes that Russia has repeatedly postponed the start of mass production of the Okhotnik.
It is not known how long this UCAV had been flying missions before it was shot down. But the fact that the Russian Armed Forces will soon have such a weapon in their possession is worth noting.
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