Putin’s ‘undetectable’ Hunter stealth drone takes to the skies with a manned fighter jet wingman for the first time
- The new Okhotsk drone, meaning Hunter, only made its maiden flight this month
- It will be capable of flying from Moscow to London and back on a single mission
- Drone can be deployed as a spy in the sky but is also capable of firing missiles
- Russia boasts the lethal new stealth drone will be almost invisible to enemy radar
Vladimir Putin’s lethal new stealth combat drone has taken to the skies in tandem with a Russian fighter jet for the first time.
The Sukhoi-made Okhotsk – meaning Hunter – only made its maiden flight this month and Russia boasts it is ‘almost undetectable’.
The unmanned flying vehicle can be controlled on missions by pilots in an accompanying warplane, or from the ground.
The drone will be capable of flying from Moscow to London and back on a single mission.
The Sukhoi-made Okhotsk – meaning Hunter – only made its maiden flight this month and Russia boasts it is ‘almost undetectable’
According to sources, it can be deployed as a spy in the sky but is also capable of firing missiles at enemies.
The video released by the Russian defence ministry shows it flying with a Su-30SM fighter jet.
However, once in service, it will be deployed with a fifth-generation Su-57 fighter aircraft.
It will also operate under ground control and, eventually, by using its own ‘brain’, boast its designers.
‘The possibility is also envisaged for the drone’s completely autonomous flight without the operator’s participation when it takes off, performs its programme and lands only under the control of its own guidance system,’ said a Sukhoi source.
According to sources, it can be deployed as a spy in the sky but is also capable of firing missiles
Vladimir Putin’s lethal new stealth combat drone operating for the first time in tandem with a Russian fighter
It will also operate under ground control and, eventually, by using its own ‘brain’, boast its designers
Despite a takeoff weight of 20 tonnes, it is reported to be ‘practically invisible to radars’
Russian deputy defence minister Alexey Krivoruchko said in May that the ‘Okhotnik’ was a priority for the Russian military
The Siberian-made drone – lacking a tail wing – has been under secret development for at least eight years.
Despite a takeoff weight of 20 tonnes, it is reported to be ‘practically invisible to radars’ and has a range of up to 3,100 miles with a speed of 625 mph.
For ‘safety reasons’ the latest tests were conducted without the UAV retracting its landing gear.
Russian deputy defence minister Alexey Krivoruchko said in May that the ‘Okhotnik’ was a priority for the Russian military.
The test was described as a success.
The single-engine drone bears a visual resemblance to Lockheed Martin U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel.
It is equipped with electro-optical spying, radar and other types of reconnaissance.