S-70: Russia’s New Stealth Drone to Launch from Mini Aircraft Carrier?

Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B drones are slated to be launched from a new Russian amphibious assault ship, a sort of mini aircraft carrier if you will. The Mitrofan Moskalenko will be a 44,000-ton helicopter carrier that can carry four S-70 “Hunter” stealth drones. The drones will execute deep strike missions and also provide targeting data for Tsirkon hypersonic missiles fired from other vessels in the fleet. But it will be the Okhotnik S-70 that provides the eyes, ears, and long-range stealth attack mission for the ship.

More on the S-70 Okhotnik Killer UAV

The Okhotnik S-70 is a robust drone that should go into serial production in 2023 and enter wider service in 2024. The first flying prototype was unveiled in 2019. It is large for an unmanned system, weighing in at 20 tons with a wingspan of 46 feet. The S-70 will have a powerful AL-41F turbofan engine – the same power plant that the 5th generation Su-57 stealth fighter boasts. This gives it a combat range of 2,500 miles and…