Videos emerging online appear to show a rare, perhaps prototype, Russian Sukhoi
S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) drone
being shot down over Ukraine. Early reporting suggests it may have been a Russian-friendly fire incident after being engaged by other Russian aircraft. That said, as of the time of writing, it is difficult to rule out Ukraine
shooting it down. Earlier this year,

Ukraine damaged or destroyed a fifth-generation Su-57 Felon fighter jet on the ground
.

“Sixth Generation” Russian S-70 drone shot down

Videos shared on social media show missiles fired at a massive Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B drone and shooting it out of the sky. The drone then crashed in Ukrainian-controlled territory, with more images emerging online of the debris. Both Ukrainian and Russian sources have confirmed the incident. Russia likely only possesses these drones in very low numbers – serial production was reported in January 2024 to begin in the second half of 2024.

One Russian post read, “All our planes and crews are home. Alive, healthy and safe. Well, the fact that we have one less drone, that happens. That’s what testing is for.

The shootdown happened in the Konstantynivka area of the Donest front. There are also early reports that the massive drone could have veered off course. It is also not immediately clear what the drone was doing in Ukraine (if it was operating in an ISR capacity, as loyal wingman drone for a fighter, as a mothership launching drones, or conducting strike missions).

The National Interest previously wrote of the Su-70 in July 2024, “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.

It is unclear how much of the hype the large Russian drone will eventually live up to.

Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik-B UAV

The S-70 drone is a Russian stealth-heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle and is being developed as part of Russia’s broader sixth-generation fighter jet project. It is thought that the drone is intended to operate under the control of Sukhoi Su-57
Felon fighter jets. A United States Air Force comparison could be the Skyborg program or the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, where loyal wingman drones complement manned fighters.

Mock up of Russia Su-70 drone

Photo: Russian social media

“Okhotnik has a low signature, a flying wing aerodynamic scheme, and a takeoff weight of 20 tons. It is made of composite materials and a radar-absorbing coat. The drone has the most advanced reconnaissance equipment.” – TASS

In 2019, the state-run Russian news agency TASS reported that the S-70 drone had made its first flight, flying for over 20 minutes before landing back at the airbase. The article also stated that the drone has a takeoff weight of 20 tons and is made of composite materials. The article also claimed the drone had a “low signature”—although that doesn’t appear to have saved the drone from being shot down over Ukraine.

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