On October 5, Russia suffered its first confirmed loss of the S-70 “Okhotnik” heavy combat drone in a friendly fire incident over the occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Initial reports and footage circulated on social media showed Russian forces downing what was later identified as the S-70 drone, one of the most advanced unmanned systems in development by Russia.
And this wasn’t just any aircraft, it was one of a tiny handful of Russian Air Force S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) flying wing unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).
At present, Russia has only a few prototypes of the S-70 “Okhotnik,” which is being developed with technology drawn from the Su-57 fighter jet. The drone is part of Moscow’s efforts to field a fleet of heavy, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can carry out strike and reconnaissance missions in coordination with manned aircraft.
According to reports, a pair of aircraft, consisting of a piloted Su-57 and the unmanned S-70, took off from Akhtubinsk Air Base, located about 365 miles from the front lines, for an operational test flight. The mission was part of the drone’s experimental trials, aiming to test its capabilities in live combat situations. However, a technical malfunction caused the drone to lose contact with its ground operator, veering off course toward Ukrainian-controlled territory.
The Russian military responsible for the test became panicked. Radio intercepts from the flight control center revealed that ground commanders ordered the accompanying Su-57 pilot to attempt to disrupt the rogue drone’s flight path, even suggesting using the aircraft’s wing to divert it. Ultimately, a decision was made to launch an air-to-air missile to bring down the drone.
The S-70 “Okhotnik” crashed in Kostiantynivka, just 16 kilometers from the frontline, and Ukrainian forces recovered its remnants. Initial assessments of the wreckage cast doubt on Russian claims about the drone’s advanced capabilities. Contrary to Russian propaganda, the S-70 does not appear to feature the stealth polymers or advanced artificial intelligence systems that were advertised. “This is no advanced combat drone,” a Ukrainian defense expert said. “It’s more like a glider equipped with basic flight capabilities and radio controls.”
Additionally, the use of the Su-57 manned fighter as a command relay for the drone was seen as inefficient and highlighted the limitations of Russian networking capabilities. The S-70 lacks the robust stealth technologies that Russia has claimed to possess, and it does not feature the kind of network-centric systems comparable to NATO’s Link-16. Instead, the drone relies on a basic radio link for guidance, limiting its operational flexibility.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has long promoted the S-70 as a “loyal wingman” to the Su-57, capable of engaging in coordinated missions and using a wide range of airborne weaponry. However, the incident casts doubt on the drone’s ability to execute sophisticated combat manoeuvres, including the use of air-to-air missiles or precision-guided weaponry.
The S-70 program began in 2017, when the first prototype of the drone appeared. It was developed by the Chkalov Aviation Plant in Novosibirsk, with ground tests taking place in late 2018. Since then, the drone has been part of Russia’s broader efforts to develop next-generation UAVs, although it has functioned more as a technology demonstrator than a fully operational platform.
While Russia continues to push the development of the S-70, its combat readiness remains questionable. The loss of the drone in this incident, coupled with the challenges highlighted by this operational failure, raises serious concerns about the program’s future. Despite Russia’s ambition to field advanced unmanned systems, the reality on the ground suggests that the S-70 is still far from being the high-tech asset the Kremlin has promoted.
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