Zhang Haile
In recent years of wars and conflicts, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as an indispensable combat force on the battlefield. Especially in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the strategic value of drones is becoming increasingly significant, with FPV kamikaze drones, Bayraktar TV2 medium drones, and various quadcopters shining on the battlefield. However, a new type of heavy jet drone is quietly entering the war and is at the forefront of the field of drone equipment with its excellent performance and advanced technology.
Technological innovation and strategic value of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV
Back in 2007, MiG presented a model of a heavy stealth jet drone called "Skat" at the MAKS air show, whose "flying wing" design and excellent performance parameters bode well for the future direction of drone technology. A few years later, Sukhoi took over and was responsible for the development of heavy jet UAVs in the 10-20 ton class, and they took into account the results of the "Skat" project to further develop the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV. This UAV not only follows the "flying wing" design, but also has a breakthrough in stealth technology, from its size, load and performance data, we can see that it has strong combat capabilities.
Figure 1 A full-scale model of the MAKS-2007 Skat drone
The S-70 Okhotnik UAV was originally designed to work in tandem with fifth-generation Su-57 fighters, however, it also has the ability to perform tasks independently and flexibly respond to a variety of complex combat environments. At present, three flight prototypes of the "S-70 Okhotnik" have been manufactured, and it is expected that by the end of 2024, the Russian Aerospace Forces will begin to deploy the first mass-produced "S-70 Okhotnik" UAVs. There is information that the aircraft may already be in service with the zone of the special military operation.
Figure 2 Joint flight of the S-70 Okhotnik "UAV and Su-57 fighter
The continuous advancement of technology and the increasing sophistication of battlefield needs have made the appearance of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV a new strategic option for the Russian Air Force. Its excellent stealth performance and advanced electronic warfare capabilities will make it occupy an important position in modern warfare, whether it is in air-to-air, air-to-ground combat, or electronic warfare, the "S-70 Okhotnik" will become a major magic weapon of the Russian army.
Careful deployment and tactical application of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV
The length of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV is 14 meters, and the wingspan is 19 meters. It weighs about 20 tons, has a maximum take-off weight of 25 tons, a maximum speed of about 1,000 kilometers per hour, a practical ceiling of up to 18,000 meters, and a flight distance of up to 6,000 kilometers. Although the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV is designed to show strong potential for deep operations behind enemy lines, the Russian army does not plan to risk allowing it to carry out combat missions deep into the territory of Ukraine in order to protect the advanced nature of the UAV and avoid the risk of technical leakage and loss. To be on the safe side, the Russian army decided to deploy the "S-70 Okhotnik" drone near the forward positions of the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield, instead of letting it carry out raid missions deep into enemy positions. For such high-risk operations, the Russian military will rely on other weapons systems such as long-range kamikaze drones, cruise missiles, tactical missiles, and aeroballistic missiles.
At the same time, in order to maximize the utility of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV, the Russian army is prioritizing its use for more targeted tasks. For example, the drone can carry precision-guided munitions, such as the Kh-59MK2 tactical air-to-surface missile, to carry out precision destruction of targets of particular importance to the enemy. Its superior stealth performance allows it to approach targets in over-the-horizon situations, which ensures the optimal use of high-precision ammunition and significantly reduces the risk of loss of the drone. Even in extreme cases, if the drone is hit by the enemy, its wreckage will fall in the territory controlled by the Russian army, thus avoiding the potential risk of technology leakage.
Figure 3 The S-70 Okhotnik drone on mission
In addition, according to experts' predictions, the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV will play a huge role in the fight against Ukrainian air defense. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have already inflicted considerable losses on the Russian army with the use of anti-aircraft missile systems, and the introduction of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV is expected to provide the Russian army with an important tactical advantage and change the situation on the battlefield.
The tactical challenge of ambushes of air defense systems with potential advantages of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV
It is difficult to resist the tactics of ambushes by air defense systems. The enemy secretly brings the long-range air defense system as close as possible to the target, and then in a short time turns on the radar, captures the target, launches anti-aircraft missiles (SAM). After hitting the target, the air defense system withdraws as soon as possible and withdraws from the target area, deep into the controlled area. The swiftness and stealth of this tactic poses a great challenge to the defenders, requiring a high degree of vigilance and quick reflexes. The Armed Forces of Ukraine rely on intelligence to quickly activate radars, and the distinctive feature of their intelligence is the receipt of relevant information from third-party sources (for example, from intelligence from agents in NATO countries or Russia). This allows the Armed Forces of Ukraine to turn on the radar in the shortest possible time, quickly capture and strike at targets. However, this also increases the complexity and uncertainty of the operation of air defense systems, as relying on external intelligence can carry the risk of information delays or errors.
The technical characteristics of the air defense system and the difficulty of detection and destruction are high. The American Patriot air defense system equipped with the Armed Forces of Ukraine uses anti-aircraft missiles with an active radar homing head (ARLGSN). Although it is possible to turn off the radar after the launch of an anti-aircraft missile, reducing the risk of being detected by the enemy, it also reduces the probability of hitting the target to a certain extent. At the same time, the time available to detect and destroy enemy air defense systems is extremely short, and even if anti-radar missiles fly at a relatively high speed, it is often difficult to complete the task of destroying them in a limited time in the face of the enemy's air defense system's mobility and rapid evacuation capabilities.
Figure 4 The AN/MPQ-53 multifunctional radar with a passive phased array antenna is the most expensive part of the Patriot air defense system
The "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV has significant advantages in the destruction of enemy air defense systems. First of all, UAVs have a much longer patrol time than manned aircraft and are capable of patrolling near the target area for a long time. Secondly, the good stealth of the drone allows it to patrol in the vicinity of enemy air defense systems, reducing the risk of being detected and hit by the enemy. At the same time, the drone operator can realize background rotation operation to avoid pilot fatigue problems. These advantages make the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV an effective tool for disrupting enemy air defense systems. However, it should be noted that the advantages of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV are based on open data and theoretical speculations, and in fact its performance depends on a number of factors, such as the radar scattering cross-section, avionics composition, and the ability to use anti-aircraft missiles. Therefore, the application and effect of the "S-70 Okhotnik" UAV in actual combat still need to be further observed and verified in the future.