Everything you want to know S-70 Hunter that was on a bombing mission

The heavy Russian S-70 Okhotnik drone shot down on October 5, 2024 was allegedly involved in missions to attack ground targets. The incident occurred near Kostiantynivka in Kramatorsk District, about 15-20 kilometers from the front line.

At the crash site, leftovers A corrected UMPB D-30SN glide bomb was discovered, shedding light on the drone's intended operational role. The UMPB D-30 is a Russian aerial munition developed from the FAB-250 bomb and equipped with a satellite guidance system.

According to reports, the maximum range can vary between 50 and 90 kilometers. The presence of the UMPB D-30 at the crash site suggests that Russian forces intended to use the Okhotnik as a standoff bomber and use precision-guided glide bombs to attack enemy positions.

The stealth drone likely lost control before being shot down by a Russian warplane, preventing it from reaching Ukrainian defense forces. After the incident Videos started It is circulating online and shows a Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) fighter jet shooting down the S-70 Okhotnik.

The clips show two planes in flight, with visible contrails in the sky and a trail of smoke suggesting the fighter jet fired an air-to-air missile at the drone.

The Telegram channel Fighterbomber, believed to be affiliated with the Russian Air Force, interpreted this incident as evidence of increased use of S-70 drones over Ukraine. The channel claimed: “Russia has begun massively deploying heavy attack UAVs Inokhodets and Okhotnik in the special operations area.”

The Inokhodets, a non-stealthy, propeller-driven combat drone, was reportedly active in the conflict. Ukrainian forces said they shot down at least seven of them. However, it remains unclear whether the Okhotniks make a significant contribution to Russia's military efforts.

Sukhoi, the manufacturer of the Okhotnik, first flew the satellite-controlled drone in 2019 and carried out the first bomb drop two years later. Initially only two Okhotnik prototypes were built. Fighterbomber claims that the downed drone was a production model and not a prototype, but this claim is difficult to verify.

Strategic advantages of the UMPB D-30 bomb

The choice of the UMPB D-30 over the more commonly used UMPK can be attributed to the design of the S-70 Okhotnik, which features stealth technologies that require internal weapon bays rather than external suspension points on the wings.

The Okhotnik's design is based on the flying wing scheme and uses composite materials and stealth coatings, reducing its RCS (radar cross section). After analyzing the wreckage, a Ukrainian analyst reportedly said the downed drone did not contain any stealth polymers.

The UMPK, developed from a larger FAB bomb, simply cannot be stored in the drone's internal compartments.

In addition, the UMPB D-30 offers an extended area of ​​application. Unlike the UMPK, which functions as a free-fall bomb with wings and guidance systems, the UMPB D-30 was specifically designed as a gliding bomb.

This design gives it a remarkable range of up to 90 kilometers and allows the S-70 to conduct attacks from safer distances from enemy defenses.

Moscow likely views this drone-bomb combination as a highly effective strategy for airstrikes on Ukrainian targets. The use of such missions allows the use of an unmanned drone, albeit costly, thereby minimizing the risk to human life.

Additionally, using a drone is significantly more cost-effective than using a manned aircraft such as the Su-34, primarily due to the drone's single-engine configuration, which results in lower maintenance and refueling costs.

Currently, Sukhoi Su-34 bombers serve as the Air Force's primary glide bombers. Around a hundred of them are actively deployed and together they drop around 3,000 glide bombs every month. However, these Su-34 regiments faced significant challenges in the conflict.

Since the escalation of hostilities in February 2022, Ukrainian air defenses have successfully shot down at least 29 of these bombers – equivalent to about a fifth of all Su-34s Sukhoi has produced.

Integrating S-70 aircraft into glide bombing operations could reduce pressure on Su-34 units and protect the lives of valuable aircrew members. However, implementing this strategy turned out to be more complicated than expected, as recent incidents showed.

Meanwhile, after the drone was shot down, probably by the accompanying Su-57 fighter jet, Russian forces fired an Iskander missile at the crash site to destroy the S-70 wreckage.

But before the rocket attack, Ukrainian forces had already done so extracted intact components for examination that could prove harmful to Russia.

The analysis could embarrass Russian officials for more than just reasons Hardware loss. Experts warn that the main concern is whether Western engineers can detect the specific wavelengths that the S-70 is designed to counteract the angles from which it remains recognizable.

Such findings could significantly impact the drone's stealth capabilities. Given the S-70's relatively large size, low speed, and high cost, any compromise in its stealth capabilities would make it significantly less effective in combat missions.