A Russian stealth heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) was recently shot down above Ukraine, with footage of the incident circulating on social media. This loss of a sophisticated and expensive asset could provide valuable intelligence to Ukraine and its allies about Russian drone technology, potentially leading to efforts to counter these types of drones in the future.
According to reports and footage on social media, the remains of the downed drone have been found by Ukrainian soldiers on the ground. It is believed to be the S-70 Okhotnik-B (also known as the “hunter”) stealth drone, which was reportedly shot down near the town of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk Oblast.
Initial reports suggested that the downed aircraft was a Russian Sukhoi Su-25 jet, but it now appears that it was indeed the S-70 Okhotnik-B. There are also reports that the drone lost control and was shot down by a Russian fighter jet. The Ukrainian military stated that the fighter jet had two engines, while the downed drone only had one and was carrying a full tank of fuel. This could explain why the fighter jet launched an air-to-air missile at the uncontrolled drone.
The S-70 Okhotnik-B has been in development at the Russian Sukhoi Design Bureau since 2011. The UCAV is designed to strike enemy targets without entering the area of operation of manned aircraft or air defense systems. It has the capability to carry up to 2.8 tons of missiles and bombs in its internal weapons compartments, and has a length of 14 meters, wingspan of 19 meters, and takeoff weight of over 20 tons.
Some experts speculate that Russia may have decided to test their prototypes directly on the battlefield, as the Okhotnik-B is not yet in mass production. It is believed that Russia currently only has three prototypes of the UCAV, with three more in development. The start of mass production has been repeatedly postponed, and it is not known how long this particular UCAV had been flying missions before it was shot down.
The fact that the Russian Armed Forces will soon have this advanced weapon in their possession is concerning. It is important for Ukraine and its allies to closely monitor the development and deployment of the S-70 Okhotnik-B, and to continue efforts to counter and defend against this type of technology.
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