Recent developments have shed light on a notable operation involving the Russian Air Force’s sole fifth-generation fighter regiment, which operates the Su-57 Felon. This operation centered around the neutralization of a friendly S-70 Okhotnik unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) prototype over the Ukrainian theater. The S-70, an early prototype, notably lacked the advanced stealth features of its more modern variants and was armed at the time of its downing, indicating its involvement in combat testing against Ukrainian forces.
The incident occurred near Konstantynivka in the disputed Donetsk region, approximately 15 kilometers behind Ukrainian lines. This area is recognized as one of the most heavily defended sections of Ukrainian airspace, suggesting that the S-70 may have been leveraging its stealth capabilities to conduct attacks during its operational testing phase. Reports indicate that control of the drone was lost, possibly due to a technical malfunction or electronic interference from Ukrainian or allied forces. This loss raised concerns about the potential for the aircraft to be captured relatively intact by either Ukraine or NATO members, given Ukraine’s history of transferring sensitive equipment obtained from Russian forces to its Western allies for analysis since the onset of hostilities in February 2022.
The Su-57 reportedly engaged the S-70 within visual range, a challenging feat considering the low radar cross-section of the drone, which complicates targeting with radar-guided missiles, especially behind enemy lines. Another possibility for the close-range engagement is that the Su-57 did not carry beyond-visual-range missiles, as its weapons bay may have been allocated to cruise missiles, or the Russian Air Force might have preferred to avoid the risk of Ukrainian forces recovering its advanced R-77M radar-guided air-to-air missiles.
While the loss of this early S-70 prototype is not anticipated to have significant ramifications for the overall program—given that more advanced variants have been operational for years—it does raise critical questions about the viability and security of unmanned fighters both within Russia and globally. The fact that contact may have been lost or that the drone could have been commandeered by Ukrainian or Western assets poses a serious concern regarding the risks associated with reliance on unmanned aircraft.
Historically, such events are not unprecedented; for example, Iran successfully commandeered a CIA RQ-170 stealth drone in 2011, landing it intact and extracting significant technological insights. For the Su-57, the decision to destroy the S-70 before it could potentially fall into Western hands is likely to represent one of the most consequential operations in the fighter’s operational history. Despite the Su-57’s extensive deployment for strikes against various Ukrainian targets since 2022, this incident underscores the operational challenges and risks associated with integrating unmanned systems into modern combat scenarios.
In conclusion, while the engagement of the S-70 Okhotnik prototype by the Su-57 was a relatively small tactical loss in the broader context of the conflict, it highlights the complex dynamics of unmanned aerial systems in warfare. The implications for both Russian military strategy and the future of unmanned combat aircraft are significant, as nations must grapple with the technological vulnerabilities that come with operating advanced systems in contested environments.
