Previously little had been known of Russia's new combat stealth drone, the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik, or Hunter-B, which has been described as a stealth heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) being developed by Sukhoi as a sixth-generation aircraft.
On Wednesday, for the first time the Russian Defense Ministry released footage of the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik drone in action, in a 20 minute low altitude flight at about 2000 feet. Russian news agencies reported it as the next generation drone's maiden flight.
Earlier this year the secretive aircraft was first spotted by land-based cameras at an airfield in Novosibirsk in southern Russia, and then picked up by commercial satellite imagery in May at the Chkalov State Flight-Test Center. New footage now confirms its first major test flight as successful.
The flight analysis site The Aviationist described the new Hunter-B's first flight as "significant since the aircraft is to provide the first heavy, jet-powered, armed, long-range drone capability for Russia." And further:
The new Su-70 Hunter-B is said to have low-observable capabilities, providing it with the ability to penetrate heavily defended airspaces without detection to conduct covert precision strikes. The remotely piloted aircraft may also be tasked to work as a leading edge of battle penetrator, conducting the first strikes such as enemy air defense suppression during the opening phase of a major air war.
The wedge-shaped drone is considered among Russia's most advanced aircraft to date, and looks like something straight out of Star Wars. Free Options Webinar August 14 at 3:30 PM CT
Russian media commonly described the Okhotnik as capable of traveling up to 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), despite it's significant weight of about 20 tons.
#1: Lod To: Horse (#0)
Lod posted on 2019-08-09 09:39:49 Reply Private Reply
#2: Horse To: Lod (#1)
Horse posted on 2019-08-09 11:12:36 Reply Private Reply
#3: Lod To: Horse (#2)
Truth.
Lod posted on 2019-08-09 11:55:48 Reply Private Reply
#4: Pinguinite To: Horse (#2)
The Russians, with far less to spend, are more frugal and focus on *real* defense. That's why they focus on anti aircraft and anti ship missiles and strategic nukes, and largely take a pass on big navy task forces.
The USA, which is overconfident and careless, is guided by political pride and corporate cronyism, not to mention offensive weaponry needed to dominate the world.
Pinguinite posted on 2019-08-09 18:06:31 Reply Private Reply