Russia’s Newest and Rarest S-70 “Okhotnik” Drone Shot Down in Combat

For the first time, in October, Russia’s heavily armed S-70 Okhotnik (lit. “Hunter”) drone was taken down in action. Some reports suggest it may have been hit by Russian-friendly fire, though the reasons remain unclear.

This marks Russia’s first loss of an Okhotnik drone. So, what exactly is this drone?

Development

The S-70 Okhotnik, developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau since 2011, is a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed in a flying wing configuration. Its primary objective is to evade enemy radar detection, earning its classification as a stealth drone.

The Okhotnik is a combat drone capable of carrying missiles and bombs within its fuselage, with a total payload capacity of up to 2.8 tons. Theoretically, this capacity could expand to 8 tons with external weapons, though there have been no confirmed reports of the drone carrying externally mounted missiles.

The drone’s wingspan is 19 meters, and its flight range varies between 3,500 to 6,000 kilometers, depending on the source.

Since development began in 2011, with the first test in 2019, information on the S-70 has evolved over time. However, progress has been slow. As of 2024, only four prototypes are known to exist, despite initial plans for mass production by late 2024 or early 2025. It is believed that the downed unit was undergoing combat testing at the time.

Russian reports claim that the Okhotnik is intended to work alongside the Su-57 fighter jet in tandem operations. This concept mirrors the U.S. Air Force’s discussions about developing a family of drones to complement fighter jets. Whether the Russian system can effectively operate this way remains unclear.

The development costed around $160-200 millions.

Mission of the S-70 Okhotnik

The new S-70 Okhotnik’s primary mission is to approach combat positions outside the range of enemy air defense systems and deliver bombs or launch missiles. If the drone can indeed operate in tandem with the Su-57, its roles could expand to include supporting the pilot, engaging in aerial combat, evading enemy air defenses, and more. This would require sophisticated AI systems and highly advanced software.

Based on available information, the Okhotnik is primarily seen as a modern stealth bomber drone. It has only been observed dropping bombs, indicating that it is currently limited to performing basic combat tasks.

Challenges have also emerged in moving the S-70 Okhotnik into full-scale production. Initially, production lines were expected to be ready by 2023, but this timeline has been delayed until 2025 due to the need for further testing. A simplified version of the drone—likely the bomber variant—may reportedly currently be in production.