This incident is not only a major setback for Russia’s drone program, but it could also provide valuable intelligence to Ukraine as well as its Western allies.
On 5 October, Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik “Hunter” unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), which flew west above the frontlines, was shot down.
The loss of such a sophisticated and expensive asset may provide Ukraine and its allies with valuable intelligence about Russian drone technology. This could lead to future efforts to counter these types of drones.
According to the UK Ministry of Defense it is likely that Russia lost the UCAV, and decided to destroy it to prevent it from falling into the Ukrainian forces’ hands.
The S-70 is a Sukhoi product that has been in development at least for ten years. It was tested at Russia’s airbase Akhtubinsk.
The reduced radar cross-section of the S-70 makes it a “stealthy” deep-strike weapon, capable of penetrating enemy radar and air-defense coverage. The system is said to be able operate in conjunction with the Su-57 fighter.
Russia may have waited until the last minute to engage the UCAV, having exhausted all attempts to bring it under control. This is yet another costly and embarrassing failure in Russian weapons development, and will almost certainly delay S-70 program.
The S-70 “Okhotnik”, which was a Ukrainian-controlled aircraft, crashed in Kostiantynivka just 16 kilometers away from the frontline. Ukrainian forces recovered the remnants of the aircraft.
Related:
* Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik crashes casts doubt on Russian drone claims
* Modern Russian Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik stealth drone shot down above Ukraine
The Su-57 Felon, Russia’s newest “fifth-generation” fighter, has suffered its first ever damage in Ukraine
Rada approves Ukraine’s new unmanned technology branch
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* Ukrainian Intelligence: Number of damaged Russian Su-57s may be two
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