In a rare and dramatic event near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka, Ukrainian forces may have shot down Russia’s newest stealth combat drone, the S-70 Okhotnik, during what appeared to be an unprecedented aerial encounter. Two vapor trails cutting across the sky—one belonging to the drone, the other to a Russian Su-57 fighter jet—culminated in a flash of light as the drone was destroyed.
This advanced unmanned aircraft, designed for stealth operations and close coordination with Su-57 jets, is as large as a traditional fighter jet but lacks a cockpit, making it highly difficult to detect. Weighing over 20 tonnes with a range of 6,000km, the S-70 has been under development since 2012, but this marked its first known use in combat over Ukraine.
Analysts speculate that Ukraine’s electronic warfare systems may have jammed the drone, leading to a loss of control, prompting Russian forces to destroy it to avoid it falling into enemy hands. The drone’s destruction is a significant setback for Moscow, which had planned to begin production this year. Although it failed in this instance, the incident highlights Russia’s ongoing efforts to innovate and test advanced technologies in the conflict.
Debris from a D-30 glide bomb, known for its precision using satellite navigation, was reportedly found near the crash site, raising questions about the drone’s mission. Ukrainian forces now have the opportunity to study the wreckage, potentially gathering valuable intelligence on the Okhotnik’s capabilities and flaws, especially regarding its limited stealth features.
Despite the Okhotnik’s failure, Russia’s determination to push forward with cutting-edge warfare technologies remains evident.