Sometime in July, flew the second prototype of the S-70 «Okhotnik» (Hunter) drone, which Russia is developing as an unmanned combat complement to the Su-57 «Felon» (NATO code) and possibly the future Su-75 Checkmate.
Work under the Okhotnik program has been underway at the Sukhoi Design Bureau since 2011. An experimental prototype with a traditional (round) nozzle made its first flight in August 2019. It lasted 20 minutes. In the same year, its first joint flight with the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, its future partner, took place.
See also: Su-75 Checkmate design modifications and new versions in development
The important thing about this second prototype is that it incorporates modifications to the hot gas exhaust designed to reduce its signature to infrared detection, as well as reducing the aircraft’s rear radar signature. This unmanned aircraft had already made its first public appearance in mid-December 2012, but this must be the first time that film evidence of its flight test campaign has appeared.
S-70 Okhotnik
It is an unmanned aircraft designed as a flying wing, to reduce its radar signature, similar in size to a fighter plane, with a length of 14 meters, a wingspan of 19 meters and a take-off weight of 20 tons. Estimated maximum speed is 1000 km/h.
It has internal bays to carry a wide range of guided weapons in stealth mode, be they missiles or bombs, and according to Rostec personnel, the Okhotnik is a very intelligent system and is capable of solving a wide range of tasks individually, in groups and in conjunction with manned aircraft. The technology developed within the S-70 program will be exploited for application to new generations of Russian manned and unmanned aircraft.
