Aerial War in Ukraine - Russia Gave Ukraine the Wreckage of Its Latest Combat Drone
“We wanted the best, but it turned out as always.” This famous quote from Russian statesman Viktor Chernomyrdin in 1993 has become widely known and is deeply ingrained in Russian culture. It is also fitting for the biggest event of the observed period (October 1–31), which was the loss of the latest Russian combat drone, the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B, during one of its first operational deployments.
Miro Barič
Russia Gave Ukraine the Wreckage
of Its Latest Combat Drone
Russian propaganda had long boasted
about these heavy combat drones. This year,
according to various bombastic statements,
mass production of hundreds or even
thousands of units was supposed to begin.
However, according to available information,
only four prototypes have been produced so
far, and one of them has already been lost.
This happened on Saturday, October 5.
The S-70 Okhotnik-B took off from the
Akhtubinsk base, located over 580 km east
of the front line, for an operational-test flight.
It was accompanied by a Su-57 fighter jet.
The approach of the pair of aircraft to the front
line was clearly visible due to the condensation
trails they left behind. Suddenly, the second
aircraft fired a missile that hit the leading
aircraft, which then spiraled to the ground in
a flat spin.
Initially, Russian channels celebrated,
claiming that the Russian fighter jet had shot
down a Ukrainian F-16. However, the downed
aircraft was neither Ukrainian nor an F-16—it
was Russian and, moreover, a highly valuable
asset. The Okhotnik-B drone first flew in 2019,
though its development by the Sukhoi and MiG
companies began long before. The drone has
a wingspan of about 20 meters and weighs
20 tons. It can reach speeds of 1,000 km/h and
is primarily designed to serve as an escort
aircraft for the Su-57. Its armament is carried
in an internal weapons bay in the fuselage.
For its last flight, the Okhotnik-B was armed
with a guided glide bomb, the UMPB D-30SN,
which was later found among its wreckage.
It is believed that during this flight, the drone
was supposed to test bombing Ukrainian
positions. However, the drone went out of
control. When all attempts to regain control
failed, the accompanying Su-57 shot it down
to prevent it from falling into Ukrainian hands.
Yet, this plan did not go as intended for
the Russians. The drone crashed near
Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region,
approximately 11 km from the front line—but
on the Ukrainian side. Ukrainian forces quickly
reached the wreckage, and photographs
showed that at least one wing and a large part
of the fuselage remained relatively intact.
Although Russia fired two Iskander ballistic
missiles at the crash site, it did so with
a significant time delay. In the meantime,
Ukrainian forces managed to transport the
wreckage for analysis. Among the remains,
numerous electronic components of Western
origin were found, indicating how Russia has
been circumventing sanctions. Additionally,
a serial number was discovered, suggesting
that this was the fourth and most recent
prototype.
“We wanted the best, but it turned out as always.” This famous quote from Russian
statesman Viktor Chernomyrdin in 1993 has become widely known and is deeply
ingrained in Russian culture. It is also fitting for the biggest event of the observed
period (October 1–31), which was the loss of the latest Russian combat drone, the
Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B, during one of its first operational deployments.
Aerial War in Ukraine
Drone S-70 Ochotnik-B: An official image of the Sukhoi-made drone.
UKRAINE
INFO Eduard18
December 2024