Videos of a Russian fighter aircraft shooting down its own S-70 “Okhotnik” UCAV drone on Saturday have been shared by milbloggers from both Russia and Ukraine.
On October 5, social media users posted videos of what seemed to be a twin-engine, stealthy, multirole fighter aircraft, Su-57 (NATO: Felon), shooting down an experimental Sukhoi S-70 “Okhotnik (Hunter)” unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
The drone is seen being shot down over the Konstantinovka neighborhood of the Donetsk region in the video, which has been shared on both pro-Moscow and pro-Kyiv X/Twitter and Telegram accounts.
The S-70 was built to fly with Moscow’s fifth-generation SU-57 fighter aircraft as a “wingman” drone or to function autonomously from the ground to conduct precision strike and surveillance missions.
The UCAV, with a take-off weight of almost 20 tons, is likely the largest drone in the world. With a wingspan of about 20 meters (66 feet), it is 14 meters (46 feet) long. The first prototype, which is still regarded as experimental, was finished in 2018, and two more are reportedly finished this year.
It is reported to be equipped with a variety of the newest sensors, such as optoelectronic and infrared detectors, phased radar arrays, and others. It is estimated to be capable of carrying a 2.8-ton weapons payload, which consists of two internal bays filled with bombs and guided and unguided missiles.
The drone’s stated operational range is 6,000 kilometers (3,730 miles) because to its modified AL-41F jet engine, which powers the Su-57. Its radar signal is believed to be significantly reduced using a variety of stealth technologies, including composite materials and specialized coatings, despite its size.
Early S-70 testing is seen in the video below with a Su-57:
After close examination of the video evidence in the buildup, it appears that Saturday’s incident was not the unintended friendly fire strike that was initially thought to have occurred, nor was it a shoot-down by adjacent Ukrainian military forces.
The footage opens with the drone leading the trail of the escorting Su-57 jet and UCAV flying in close formation, one behind the other. The fighter launched what appeared to be a short-range R-74M2 heat-seeking air-to-air missile after a few seconds, taking down the drone and causing the fighter to wheel away. This is indicated by a plume of smoke coming from the fighter.
A formal statement about the occurrence and its circumstances has not yet been released by the Russian authorities. Milbloggers began to suspect that the S-70 had started to malfunction in the absence of official clarification, which created concerns that the technology would end up in the hands of Kyiv, especially because Ukrainian forces controlled the nearby areas.
It appeared from the comments that another fighter aircraft had been shot down in the early going. However, pictures of the downed drone as it plummeted down the earth made it clear what kind of object had been shot down.
Images of the debris quickly surfaced on the internet, confirming that the house was struck and destroyed by the falling drone.
Claiming that the S-70 would provide its aerospace forces a strategic edge in the battlefield of the twenty-first century, the Kremlin had been showcasing it as an example of its most recent state-of-the-art technology.
Although shooting down what is still considered a prototype may not be a significant military setback, it could be a morale hit to Russians who observed it through social media.
