New Delhi: An accompanying Sukhoi Su-57 fighter shot down S-70 Okhotnik, a stealthy Russian armed drone, on 5 October in friendly fire after it ‘malfunctioned’ near the Ukrainian-held town of Chasiv Yar.
Additionally, it is the first time that the Su-57, a fifth generation fighter aircraft, carried out a kill in public domain.
India had initially partnered with Russia on the project to develop the Su 57 fighter jet, but exited from it in 2018.
There was no clarity on whether the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B—one of Russia’s flagship projects—was shot down intentionally or accidentally. Some reports suggest that the drone operators lost control of the Russian heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle and then it was purposely brought down to prevent Ukraine from accessing the system’s ‘advanced technology’.
Video footage of the incident showed that a Su-57 fighter jet shot down the drone using an R-74M2 air-to-air missile, according to these reports.
The shooting down of the drone in Ukrainian territory means that western defence analysts will be able to get their hands on minute details of the drone, a setback for the Russians.
There were components of D-30SN precision glide bomb in the debris of the crash, which as per a report in Forbes, signified that the Okhotnik was on bombing mission.
S-70 is a heavy-weight strike and reconnaissance tactical drone with some low observable (stealthy) features and is capable of being a part of air-to-air combat, according to Warzone.
The Russian Ministry of Defence’s official television channel TV Zvezda offered an in-depth look at the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik unmanned combat air vehicle in 2021, Warzone said.
Developed by Sukhoi and MiG, the sixth-generation stealth UAV is almost the size of the Su-57 aircraft. It was in 2019 that Sukhoi first flew a satellite-guided Okhotnik.
The drone incorporates advanced AI and technologies from the Su-57 fighter jet and also boasts of a range of up to 6,000 km, according to National Interest, adding that the drone is capable of carrying different bombs and missiles.
“Its ability to take off and land autonomously and perform complex missions highlights its potential to redefine aerial combat,” the report states. “The drone is based on the earlier Mikoyan Skat, designed by MiG, and encompasses some technologies of the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet.”
Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik is intended to be launched from a runway, according to National Interest. The drone is conceptualised to take off and land autonomously with the help of an autopilot system.
“The S-70 Okhotnik is expected to carry a variety of weapons, including 250 and 500 caliber bombs, guided and unguided bombs up to 1,000 kg, guided glide bombs such as the Drel cluster bomb developed for the Su-57, as well as air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles. It will also be able to designate targets for other aircraft using its advanced sensors,” the report said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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