Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B: The Drone That Prove the Russian Military Is Broken

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Key Points: In October, a Russian Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) stealth combat drone was reportedly destroyed by friendly fire over the Donetsk front, with wreckage landing in Ukrainian territory.

-While Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, speculation points to an accidental strike by Russian forces, possibly due to a malfunction or misidentification.

-The incident highlights issues within Russia’s military, including overconfidence in advanced weapons like the Okhotnik, touted for stealth and multi-role capabilities.

-The drone’s loss underscores the challenges facing the Russian Air Force, which continues to struggle with maintaining air superiority in the ongoing conflict.

Embarrassing Loss: Russian S-70 Okhotnik Drone Shot Down Over Ukraine

One of Russia’s vaunted combat drones was destroyed with what appears to be friendly fire, and it has Vladimir Putin ‘clutching pearls’ and likely blaming his commanders for their ineptitude.

The costly incident happened in October, and videos were released online showing what looks like a Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) drone getting shot down, probably by Putin’s air force or his air defense artillery. 

Now, let’s admit it could have been the Ukrainians who destroyed it, but they haven’t taken credit. 

They would have trumpeted this as a significant feat had they been the culprits.

What Happened to the Hunter-B?

The giant S-70 Okhotnik flying-wing drone was shot out of the sky over the Konstantynivka area of the Donetsk front. 

It landed in Ukrainian territory, according to video and images on X. Other images on Telegram showed the smoking ruins of the S-70. 

There are likely no more than a dozen of these premium unmanned craft in the Russian fleet, as serial production just began this summer. So, this one hurts.

Putting a Smiley Face on S-70 Drone Disaster

Russian commentary on social media was sanguine. “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.

The Latest in Russian Braggadocio

The word “testing” is an interesting word choice.

This S-70 Okhotnik is supposed to be beyond the evaluation phase and in full-time use with all capabilities completely functional. 

This could be another example of the Russians being over-confident about the advanced weapons systems they brag so much about.

The S-70 Okhotnik can perform diverse missions, such as collecting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data, launching weapons, and being tethered to another manned airplane for electronic warfare and jamming efforts.

It is not clear what the destroyed Okhotnik was doing in Ukraine. It might have been on a testing run, but that would show that Russia is behind on the development of the drone.

The Russians are still pleased about all the munitions the S-70 can carry. It can drop guided and unguided bombs, glide bombs, and air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles.

Loyal Wingman Goes Down

The mysterious thing about the shoot-down (which leads me to believe that it was a friendly fire) is that the Okhotnik is supposed to be stealthy.

It can also serve as a Loyal Wingman to the advanced Su-57 Felon jets that haven’t seen much action over Ukraine. 

Could the S-70 Okhotnik be tethered to the Su-57, and then the Felon attacked it with missiles by accident?

If so, this would be one problematic escapade that further embarrasses the Russians.

Moreover, this could mean the Okhotnik is not as stealthy as advertised. Russian state media has claimed that the drone “has a low signature, a flying wing aerodynamic scheme, and a takeoff weight of 20 tons. 

It is made of composite materials and a radar-absorbing coat. The drone has the most advanced reconnaissance equipment,” according to TASS.

S-70 Drone and Struggling Russian Air Force

Can it really get any worse for the Russian Air Force? Its Su-35 fighters are getting blasted out of the sky. 

The service branch still does not have air superiority heading into the third year of the war. Fighters and bombers must stay out of Ukrainian air space and launch glide bombs. 

Those have been effective, but that is not precisely the air dominance that the Russian general promised Putin.

Losing the Okhotnik to friendly fire is the latest disgrace for the Kremlin’s war efforts. It shows the Russians are not adept at 21st-century warfare. 

The Air Force was supposed to be fully modernized with whiz-bang aircraft that could scare the enemy into submission. 

This is not the case; S-70 Okhotnik’s loss symbolizes everything wrong with the Russian military.

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.