One of Russia's most advanced military projects could enter production in 2024. It is the drone Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik combat aircraft, which could begin production in the second half of this year.
The unmanned aircraft with stealth characteristics was developed to fly autonomously, with the help of artificial intelligence. Five years after its first flight, the S-70 could be close to reaching the production line, according to Sergei Semka, deputy governor of Novosibirsk Oblast, where the planes will be manufactured.
Speaking to local media, Semka said the Russian government should soon complete testing the drone. This will allow the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO), a subsidiary of Sukhoi, to begin producing the aircraft sometime during the second half of 2024.
“The final phase of testing [is underway]. I think the second half of the year is the start of the launch”, said Semka. Testing was scheduled to be completed last year, but the drone program has faced delays.
Although Russia already operates military drones, the S-70 is the country's first heavy unmanned combat aircraft (UCAV). The aircraft has been in development since 2011 and made its first flight in August 2019. Since then, only two prototypes have been built for use in state testing.
Presented in 2021, the second S-70 received fuselage refinements to improve stealth capability. Russian media channels claim that the prototypes were tested in combat in Ucrania, although the government does not officially confirm it.
With a flying wing design, the S-70 has a wingspan of 20 meters and is powered by a Saturn AL-41 engine, similar to that found in the Su-35 and Su-57, although without afterburner. In this way, it can reach speeds of up to 1.000 kilometers per hour, with a range of 6.000 km.
According to Moscow, the Okhotnik has advanced electro-optical systems for target acquisition, radio and various reconnaissance equipment. The drone's two internal bays can carry up to 2,8 tons of weaponry, including bombs and missiles.
The S-70 is designed to operate in conjunction with the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon fifth generation fighter, taking advantage of stealth characteristics to find and assign air and ground targets to lead aircraft without being easily detected.
With information aerotime, DefenseOne
