Russia reveals its new ‘Hunter’ stealth combat drone capable of flying from Moscow to London and back… that looks suspiciously like a US Lockheed craft unveiled 12 years ago
- A Kremlin propaganda video shows the Sukhoi-made drone on its maiden flight
- Moscow claims it is ‘almost undetectable’ and has a range more than 3,000 miles
- It looks similar to a Lockheed Martin-designed U.S. drone introduced in 2007
Russia’s defence chiefs have unveiled a new stealth combat drone which they say is capable of flying from Moscow to London and back in a single mission.
A Kremlin propaganda video shows the Sukhoi-made Okhotnik, meaning Hunter, on its maiden 20-minute flight.
A special coating makes the unmanned flying vehicle ‘almost undetectable’, the Russian military claims.
The new gadget looks similar to a U.S. Air Force drone manufactured by Lockheed Martin which was introduced as long ago as 2007.
However, it is considered a breakthrough in Russia compared to the unmanned aerial vehicles which Moscow has previously developed.
Unveiling: Moscow’s defence ministry has revealed this new stealth combat drone which they say is capable of flying from Moscow to London and back in a single mission
Similar: The new gadget resembles a U.S. Air Force drone manufactured by Lockheed Martin which was introduced as long ago as 2007
On its maiden flight the Okhotnik flew at just under 2,000 ft, controlled from the ground at an airfield near Moscow.
It has the capacity to fire unspecified missiles to a distance of 1,250 miles, but will also be deployed on aerial reconnaissance missions, it is claimed.
The drone is equipped with electro-optical spying, radar and other types of reconnaissance.
Once it is in full service with the Russian Air Force, pilots will be able to control it in the sky from a Su-57 warplane, Moscow says.
But it will also be operated from the ground and by using its own ‘brain’, its designers have boasted.
Maiden flight: A Kremlin propaganda video shows the Sukhoi-made Okhotnik, meaning Hunter, on its first 20-minute flight
Stealth gadget: A special coating makes the unmanned flying vehicle ‘almost undetectable’, the Russian military claimed
First test: On its maiden flight the Okhotnik flew at just under 2,000 ft, controlled from the ground at an airfield near Moscow (pictured)
‘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.
The wedge-shaped drone 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.
The range is far enough to take it from Russia to Britain and Western Europe and back on a single trip.
New development: The drone (pictured) is considered a breakthrough in Russia compared to the unmanned aerial vehicles which Moscow has previously developed
Operation: Once the drone is in full service with the Russian Air Force, pilots will be able to control it in the sky from a Su-57 warplane, Moscow says
Russian deputy defence minister Alexey Krivoruchko said in May that the ‘Okhotnik’ was a priority for the Russian military.
The drone’s manufacturer, Sukhoi, has been building military planes since the Soviet era.
The new gadget bears a visual resemblance to the Lockheed Martin U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel, which has been in service since 2007.
The Sentinel was used to spy on Osama bin Laden’s secret compound in Pakistan before the al-Qaeda leader was shot dead by U.S. forces in 2011.
Iran announced later that year that it had captured one of the drones and more recently claimed to have built a replica.