Ukraine appears to be encountering the loss of Russia's latest covert drone model.
For quite some time, Russia has been working on an uncrewed combat aircraft with stealth tech. Recently, it appears that the test model of the S-70 has gone missing over Ukrainian soil. Various Telegram channels, backing both Russia and Ukraine, have shared details about the crash near Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk's region, early in the day.
An anonymous Ukrainian Air Force member reached out to Ukrainska Pravda, stating that the S-70 was releasing guided bombs towards Ukrainian bases before being struck down by friendly fire.
Reports suggest that a Russian fighter jet mistake-fired upon the drone due to an unforeseen technical issue, thereby averting the possibility of losing control over the device and sending it to Ukrainian territory. Nevertheless, the debris reportedly reached Ukrainian ground. Several videos circulating online indicate the moment of the attack and the subsequent blaze caused by the burning wreckage of the S-70. Neither the Russian nor Ukrainian military has acknowledged this incident yet.
The very first pictures of the S-70 Okhotnik emerged in August 2019. This single-engine drone, manufactured by Sukhoi, is said to boast an anti-radar shield and serves as backup for Russian fighter jets in battle scenarios – possibly as an interceptor. According to Interfax, a state-owned Russian agency, the S-70 can carry weapons weighing up to 2,000 kilograms. In June 2023, rumors went around that another prototype of this stealth drone might have attacked Ukrainian positions in Sumy district.
Russian TASS news agency reportedly predicted last year that mass production of the S-70 would commence in the second half of 2024. It remains unclear how many of these stealth drones will be added to Russia’s air force inventory.
- Despite the loss of the test model, Russian plans for mass-producing the S-70 Okhotnik, a stealth drone equipped with up to 2,000 kilograms of weapons, as reported by TASS news agency, remain undeterred, with the predicted commencement of mass production scheduled for the second half of 2024.
- While Russian forces are yet to address the recent incident involving a mysterious disappearance of a drone over Ukrainian soil, the possibility of drones like the S-70 having a significant role in future combat scenarios, acting as backup for fighter jets and potentially serving as interceptors, cannot be overlooked.
