Unmanned "stealth": when the Russian Aerospace Forces will receive the heavy attack UAV "Okhotnik"

At the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after Chkalov, the first flight model of the Russian attack drone S-70 "Okhotnik" with a flat jet engine nozzle was rolled out.

The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Alexei Krivoruchko, who also inspected the assembly process of the second flight prototype.

“The roll-out of the UAV records the completion of the assembly of the product as a whole, equipping it with all the necessary on-board equipment in accordance with the requirements for aircraft, and the transition to complex ground tests to prepare for the first flight,” said the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.

The new flight prototype is distinguished by the shape of the engine nozzle, changed from round to flat.

The general director of the Rostec corporation Sergey Chemezov called this the main feature of the UAV and noted that thanks to the new design, the radar signature of the aircraft was reduced. 

In addition, Chemezov said that a new ground control post was being created for the "Okhotnik", developed taking into account the requirements of the military.

According to the general director of Rostec, this decision, as well as the creation of a flat nozzle, will significantly increase the capabilities of the UAV.

In turn, Krivoruchko noted that the production of drones of this level is available only to countries with a developed aviation industry.

“Only countries with a developed aviation industry are capable of producing UAVs of this class, which ensures a full development cycle - from design to manufacture and conduct of all types of tests, as well as the development and production of all necessary ground and airborne equipment ... Unmanned aerial vehicles of this class cannot be assembled from components available on the market, like, say, a number of foreign analogues, ”he stressed.

According to the Deputy Minister of Defense, "Okhotnik" is a highly intelligent system capable of solving a wide range of tasks individually, in a group and in conjunction with manned aircraft.

"The UAV concentrates the advanced achievements of enterprises and organizations of the domestic military-industrial complex, which made it possible to provide functional capabilities that are not inferior, and in a number of parameters superior to a few foreign counterparts," said Krivoruchko, adding that a serial contract for the supply of "Okhotnik" will be concluded in for six months.

“Today the complex is already quite seriously ready for serial production.

I would like to add that in the near future we will already conclude a serial contract for the supply of these machines.

These vehicles are still test vehicles, but within six months we will conclude a serial contract ahead of the delivery of these unmanned vehicles, ”he stressed.

Earlier, the head of the UAC, Yuri Slyusar, expressed an assessment that the Ministry of Defense would begin to receive serial Hunter UAVs in 2024.

Heavy "Hunter"

The S-70 "Okhotnik" developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau is the first heavy attack UAV of domestic production.

Its creation began in 2012.

The first mock-up of the device for ground testing was created in 2014.

For the first time, a prototype of the "Okhotnik" was presented in 2018, when the UAV entered the final stage of ground tests.

Later, TASS, citing sources in the military-industrial complex, reported that during these tests, the "Okhotnik" made the first run along the runway of the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant, reaching a speed of 200 km / h.

At the same time, the source noted, taxiing, takeoff run, gaining speed and stopping at the end of the runway were performed by Okhotnik completely autonomously.

• S-70 "Hunter"

• © UAC

The first test flight of the UAV was made in August 2019.

It lasted more than 20 minutes - under the control of the operator, the "Okhotnik" performed several overflights of the airfield at an altitude of about 600 m and made a successful landing.

Later, at the end of September 2019, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the first joint flight of the Hunter and the fifth generation Su-57 fighter.

During this test, the UAV in an automated mode worked out interaction with the leading aircraft to expand the fighter's radar field, as well as target designation for the use of long-range weapons without the Su-57 entering the zone of conditional air defense counteraction.

"Hunter" is made according to the "flying wing" scheme.

Outwardly, it resembles a smaller version of the American B-2 Spirit bomber and the Northrop Grumman X-47B UAV.

The performance characteristics of the Hunter were not disclosed.

According to data from open sources, its maximum take-off weight is 20 tons, its range is 3.5 thousand km, its maximum speed is about 1000 km / h, and its flight altitude is up to 10.5 km.

Without refueling, the UAV will be able to stay in the air for more than a day.

Russia's development of a new heavy drone has also attracted the attention of the Western expert community.

For example, the American military-political portal The National Interest in its material "Meet: the Russian heavy attack stealth UAV" Okhotnik "noted the prospects of using these machines in conjunction with fighters.

Experts from The National Interest noted that this technology can significantly reduce response time by establishing direct communication or providing command and control between airborne platforms, thereby eliminating the need to transmit a signal through a ground station.

“This will expand the capabilities for reconnaissance and, more importantly, could allow the pilot of a 5th generation fighter to operate at a safe distance from the target area, commanding, controlling and conducting attacks on the front line of heavily armed UAVs.

"Okhotnik" can act and strike in zones of markedly increased danger, well protected by aircraft and air defense means, "- writes the American edition.

New improvements 

Dmitry Litovkin, editor of the newspaper Nezavisimoye Voennoye Obozreniye, in a conversation with RT, drew attention to the fact that a modified version of a drone equipped with a new flat nozzle was rolled out in Novosibirsk, which significantly reduces its visibility.

“Previously, the Hunter had a round engine nozzle.

However, the designers and the military are working to reduce the radar signature of this vehicle and are trying to achieve the requirements that were imposed on it: the ability not only of group action as part of manned complexes, but also of performing independent delicate missions deep behind enemy lines, ”the expert emphasized.

Modern combat conditions are constantly evolving, and the use of attack drones in various military operations is becoming increasingly important, Litovkin explained.

“We have seen the results of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, where the Turkish Bayraktar UAVs played, probably, a decisive role in ensuring the victory of Azerbaijan over Armenia.

It is clear that such a technique is also needed by the Russian military, because in some situations it is inappropriate to drive an airplane with a pilot, risking a person's life.

A drone is an expensive thing, but it is a robot, the loss of which only hits the wallet, ”said the expert.

In turn, military expert Alexei Leonkov noted that the roll-out of the new flight model of the Hunter speaks of the confident and planned development of this project.

“The rollout took place in a new building and a new fuselage, which were created using the technology of reduced radio aviation signature.

This suggests that the work is entering the home stretch.

And soon the drones will go into service with our army and navy, "- explained the interlocutor of RT.

The use of such UAVs will allow the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to even more effectively implement the concept of creating a so-called zone of denial of access and maneuver, Leonkov added.

This concept, called A2 / AD in Western military theory, is the construction of various air defense systems, anti-ship missile defense and operational-tactical missile systems that allow the enemy to block access to critical areas.

“There are still a few tests, including the use of weapons - the UAV must be able to use the aviation weapons with which it will be equipped, and hit targets with high accuracy.

After that, a decision will be made on his admission to the ranks of the armed forces, ”the expert concluded.