Drones have been in the limelight since Ukraine- Russia conflict broke out.
From commercial drones to hi-tech Ukrainian Turkish-made TB2 to Russia’s
Iran-supplied kamikaze Shahed-130, drones have played a significant role.
But now, for the first time, a very advanced drone seems to have made its way into Ukrainian skies.
Photographs of what appears to be the Russian S-70 Okhotnik stealth drone in flight during
a real-time combat scenario over Ukraine have surfaced. These images were shared on
Ukrainian telegram channels and subsequently brought to the attention by Turkish media.
It is reported that the drone was observed operating in the Sumy region.
Viewers may note that on the afternoon of June 27,
the Ukrainian media reported explosions in Sumy and Kremenchuk, Poltava region.
In this video Defense Updates, why the deployment of Okhotnik drone by
Russia is bad news for Ukraine? Let's get into the details.
The image of the Russian strike drone emerged on the internet in 2018.
The Okhotnik stealth heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) is being developed
by Sukhoi and Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG as a sixth-generation aircraft project.
The drone is based on the earlier Mikoyan Skat, designed by MiG,
and encompassing some technologies of the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet.
In late May 2019, Okhotnik performed a series of flight tests during which
the drone flew several meters above a runway of the NAPO plant.
On 3 August 2019, Okhotnik performed its maiden flight. The drone flew for
about 20 minutes at an altitude of 600 meters above the Chkalov State Flight
Test Center in Akhtubinsk and made several circles around the airfield.
On August 7, the Russian Defence Ministry released a video of the first flight.
On 27 September 2019, the Russian MoD released a video showcasing the first flight of Okhotnik
alongside the Su-57. Reportedly the UAV operated autonomously and flew for more than 30 minutes
interacting with the Su-57 to test extending the fighter’s radar and target designation
range for the use of long-range air-launched weapons from the outside of enemy air defenses.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense plans to build a fleet of Okhotniks in its
western and southern military districts by 2024.
Okhotnik's
design is based on the flying-wing scheme and incorporates the use of
composite materials and stealth coatings, making the drone low-observable in flight.
It has a weight of about 20 tons and a wingspan of around 65 feet or 20 m. The drone is powered
either by a single AL-31F turbofan, as used on the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft,
or by the improved AL-41F derivative installed on Su-35S fighters and Su-57 prototypes.
Although the first prototype's exhaust nozzle was conventional and could increase the drone's
radar signature, a future upgrade could see improved exhaust as well as engine inlet,
as shown by a mock-up at the 2019 MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon.
The maximum speed of the drone is reportedly 1,000 km/h 621 miles/h
while carrying its payload internally. Okhotnik is designed to act as a "loyal
wingman" controlled by the Su-57.
According to unconfirmed reports, the range of the drone will stand at about 6000 km or 3750 miles.
As per reports, Okhotnik is being armed with both air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles.
While Russia has many weapons that could eventually be integrated into the drone,
reports have pointed to two specific platforms.
According to Janes, Kh-59Mk2 standoff cruise missile, which is an advancement
from the heavy tactical missile series Kh-59 is being tested with Okhotnik.
The Kh-59Mk2 is known to have a range of at least 150 miles and the capacity
to carry a 500lb warhead. Its versatile design allows for various configurations.
In February 2020, Izvestia reported that the Okhotnik drone had been integrated with the
Grom 9-A-7759 glide bomb, nicknamed "Thunder." This integration enables the drone to carry up
to four Grom glide bombs in its internal bomb bay. It is important to note that the Russian
Ministry of Defense has not provided any official comments regarding this report.
Janes, citing RIA Novosti, reported in June 2022 that the Okhotnik successfully
tested precision-guided munitions [PGMs] against ground targets on May 28, 2022.
Some reports suggest that the drone can be equipped with a "Kha-35" subsonic missile
that flies at a very low altitude. The drone may also be equipped with Kha-74M2
hypersonic missiles and 8 KAB-250 guided floating bombs in the future.
Based on the projected development timelines and reports of sightings, it is conceivable that
Russia has potentially deployed the Okhotnik drone in Ukraine for operational purposes.
Such a move would be logical, as it would allow Russia to gather valuable feedback
and gain operational experience with the drone in a real-world environment.
The Okhotnik is a major challenge for Ukrainians
since radar and air defense systems may find it difficult to detect it.
Even if detected, it may not be possible to get a proper lock on the drone.
The good aspect from the Ukrainian perspective is that only a few Okhotnik is available,
and hence it may not be a game changer for Russia.
Recent findings from open-source data have indicated that Russia has two prototypes of
the Okhotnik drone and two additional prototypes currently in development.
Russia ultimately plans to pair Okhotnik with Sukhoi Su 57.
The two platforms are expected to coordinate with one another with deep integration,
and this is likely to result in force multiplication.
It remains to be seen how things pan out in the coming days.