Key Points and Summary – Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik-B, a 20-ton stealth drone, is envisioned as a “loyal wingman” for the Su-57 fighter, designed to suppress enemy air defenses and conduct deep strikes.
-Despite its impressive on-paper specifications, including a 2,500-mile range and a heavy payload, the program is deeply troubled.
-The embarrassing loss of one of the few prototypes over Ukraine, likely to friendly fire, has exposed the gap between Russia’s ambitions and its operational reality.
-While the concept of a stealthy drone “quarterback” is advanced, the Okhotnik-B remains a high-risk, unproven asset for a struggling Russian air force.
Is the Russian S-70 Okhotnik-B Stealth Drone for Real?
Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik-B stealth drone could be flying as a “Loyal Wingman” with the Su-57 Felon over the skies of Ukraine. This manned-unmanned teaming arrangement would be an early indication that Russia is entering a new era of flight, with the Su-57 serving as a drone quarterback and the S-70 Okhotnik-B performing key offensive roles.
This indicates that Russia is concerned about the survivability of the Su-57 as it considers how to enhance the effectiveness of electronic warfare, battle damage assessment, and reconnaissance capabilities for the stealth Fighter.
The Specs Are Good on Paper
The Okhotnik-B “Hunter” is considered an autonomous drone by ArmyRecogntion.com that can fly unattended on its own. It has a flying wing design to heighten radar evasion. There are radar-absorbent coatings throughout the aircraft.
This is a large, unmanned combat aerial vehicle weighing 20 tons. The wingspan is at least 60 feet. It flies at a respectable top speed of 621 miles per hour, powered by its AL-31F turbofan engine. Its ceiling is 36,000 feet and range is 2,500 miles.
This allows it to evade low-flying air defense interceptors and execute deep strikes without requiring aerial refueling.
It’s a Force Multiplier in Combat
The S-70 uses artificial intelligence to identify and track targets. This is carried out by a synthetic aperture radar and electro-optical/ infrared sensors. The S-70 would be able to fly out ahead of the Su-57 and suppress enemy air defenses.
This capability makes the Hunter a valuable resource in combat. It will help other aircraft stay in the air and could be considered an asset that can make a difference in warfare when teamed with the stealth Felon.
The Weapons Load-out Is Impressive
The Okhotnik-B can be heavily armed with internal weapons bays that can deploy more than 6,000 pounds of ordnance. “It can carry air-to-surface missiles, such as the Kh-38 and Kh-59, as well as precision-guided bombs (PGMs) like the KAB-series.
This range of weaponry allows it to perform a variety of strike missions, from tactical close air support to strategic deep strikes. The internal storage ensures that the aircraft maintains a low radar profile even when fully armed,” ArmyRecogntion.com wrote.
You Mean It Has Already Been Shot Down?
Not all has gone rosy for the Okhotnik-B. Last autumn, a Hunter was shot down – probably by friendly fire from the Russian air force or air defense systems on the ground. This happened near the Kostyantynivka area of the Donetsk front.
Most embarrassing for the Russians, it crash-landed in Ukrainian territory, where partisans documented the drone falling from the skies on social media. There may be only 12 to 24 Okhotnik-Bs in the entire fleet, so losing one was a crushing defeat for Vladimir Putin’s air force.
The Russians seemed to take the shoot-down in stride: “All our planes and crews are home. Alive, healthy, and safe. Well, the fact that we have one less drone, that happens. That’s what testing is for,” one Russian-language post said.
S-70 in 4 Words: Just in Test Mode?
Was the S-70 drone fully operational at the time, or was it still in test and evaluation mode? This would have been before the Okhotnik-B was paired with the Su-57 in the manned-unmanned teaming arrangement.
The Russians may not have been flying it with all of its systems ready for battle.
Additionally, the S-70 should have been equipped with stealth technology to evade enemy radar, which suggests that this was an accidental shootdown by friendly forces.
Russia still lacks complete air superiority over Ukraine. The Air Force has struggled due to the subpar performance of its fighters and bombers. Before this alleged Loyal Wingman can fly with Su-57s, the air force must better protect its airplanes from mistakes like the accidental shoot-down.
On paper, the S-70 is a difference-maker, but it may not live up to its full potential. The Russians are known for over-hyping their weapons systems, and the Okhotnik-B must prove itself in real combat situations. It was good that the S-70 was unmanned during the friendly fire incident and that the Ukrainians did not take a Russian pilot hostage.
So, the Russians can feel optimistic about that.
Overall, the Hunter drone is expected to have a bright future. Flying in Loyal Wingman mode could enhance the Su-57’s capabilities with improvements in electronic warfare and ground strike capabilities. The Okhotnik-B program still has a long way to go before it can dominate the skies.
Even if Russia has more than 24 Hunters, they would still need a larger fleet to create a situation where the Su-57 could use them to improve its readiness and survivability.
More intelligence needs to be gathered on the Okhotnik-B before we can determine its effectiveness in combat.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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