Videos emerging online appear to show a rare, perhaps prototype, Russian Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) drone being shot down over Ukraine. Early reporting suggests it may have been a Russian-friendly fire incident after being engaged by other Russian aircraft. That said, as of the time of writing, it is difficult to rule out Ukraine shooting it down.
Earlier this year, Ukraine damaged or destroyed a fifth-generation Su-57 Felon fighter jet on the ground . "Sixth Generation" Russian S-70 drone shot down Videos shared on social media show missiles fired at a massive Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B drone and shooting it out of the sky. The drone then crashed in Ukrainian-controlled territory, with more images emerging online of the debris.
Both Ukrainian and Russian sources have confirmed the incident. Russia likely only possesses these drones in very low numbers - serial production was reported in January 2024 to begin in the second half of 2024. One Russian post read, “ 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.
” The shootdown happened in the Konstantynivka area of the Donest front. There are also early reports that the massive drone could have veered off course. It is also not immediately clear what the drone was doing in Ukraine (if it was operating in an ISR capacity, as loyal wingman drone for a fighter, as a mothership launching drones, or conducting strike missions).
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