UK intel: Russia’s stealth drone program suffers major setback due to costly friendly fire
On 5 October, Russia shot down their own S-70 Okhotnik ”Hunter” uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) as it flew west over the front lines.
The loss of this sophisticated and expensive asset could provide valuable intelligence to Ukraine and its allies about Russian drone technology, thus leading to efforts countering these type of drones in the future.
As reported by the UK Ministry of Defense, it is likely that Russia lost control of the UCAV and took the decision to destroy the aircraft to avoid it falling into the hands of Ukrainian forces.
A Sukhoi enterprise, the S-70 has been in development for at least a decade, having been observed testing at Russia’s Akhtubinsk airbase.
A key attribute of the S-70 is its reduced radar cross section which is intended to make it a ”stealth” deep-strike asset, potentially capable of penetrating adversary radar and air-defense coverage. The system is purported to be able to operate jointly with the Su-57 FELON fighter.
It is likely Russia waited to the last moment before choosing to engage the UCAV having exhausted attempts to bring it back under control. This demonstrates yet another expensive and embarrassing failure of Russian weapons development and will almost certainly delay the S-70 program, British military analysts note.
Ultimately, the S-70 “Okhotnik” crashed in Ukraine-controlled Kostiantynivka, just 16 kilometers from the frontline, with its remnants recovered by Ukrainian forces.
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