The Ultimate Drone is Pure Hype – Russia’s S-70 is Nowhere to be Seen: Kudos should be given to the engineers within Russia’s aerospace and defense industry.
It has managed to create a drone that can’t be seen anywhere – and now we’re left to wonder if it actually exists or if Russia has given up on the project.
This, of course, is the S-70 Okhotnik-B, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was the subject of much hype and speculation, but it has now seemingly disappeared.
Even its designers have gone into “radio silence” or perhaps its stealth is so good it can’t be seen.
S-70: What We Know
In theory, the S-70 Okhotnik – which means “Hunter” in Russian – is in the same class of drones as the Dassault nEUROn and Boeing Loyal Wingman, which are now being developed to act to augment the capabilities of manned aircraft, notably fifth-generation stealth fighters.
Such drones could also significantly extend the sensor and weapons range of manned aircraft.
Large Wingspan
The S-70 Okhotnik-B is no small drone, and it reportedly has a weight of some 20 tons, along with a wingspan of around 65 feet (20 meters). The UAV is also believed to be powered by either a single AL-31F turbofan – the same used on the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter – or via the improved AL-41F derivative, that is installed on the Su-35S fighters and Su-57 prototype aircraft.
It has a total operational range of 6,000 km and a combat range of 4,000 km. The UAS further features two internal weapons bays carrying up to 2,000 kg of guided and unguided munitions.
Loyal Wingman
According to reports from Russian state media, the S-70 is meant to operate as a loyal wingman to the Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) jet, with one fighter controlling up to four of the UAVs. The drones could have a range of up to 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles).
Test Flights
The S-70 only conducted its debut flight on August 3, 2019, which lasted slightly more than 20 minutes under an operator’s control. On September 27, 2019, the drone took part in a second test flight that lasted more than 30 minutes, where the drone accompanied a Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet. During that particular flight, the drone maneuvered in the air in automated mode at an altitude of around 1,600 meters. Work on the drone was scheduled to be completed by this summer, with the goal to begin serial production of the S-70 Oknotnik-B sometime early next year.
At issue with the Okhotnik-B is whether Moscow will have the resources to actually continue its development and produce the drone in significant numbers. Serial deliveries were scheduled to begin next year, but to date, it is unclear how many prototype or pre-production models have been built.
Sanctions May Have Grounded The S-70
Due to sanctions imposed on Moscow after it launched its unprovoked and wholly unwarranted invasion of Ukraine last year, Moscow has struggled to acquire the computer chips and other advanced components for much of its military equipment – and the problem was reportedly so bad last year that microchips from refrigerators and dishwashers were repurposed and used in some tanks and armored vehicles.
Until that issue is resolved, it is likely the S-70 has been put on the back burner.
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Author Experience and Expertise: A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
