Russian S-70 “Okhotnik” Heavy Stealth Drone Shot Down Over Ukraine: Friendly Fire or Ukrainian Missile?

A heavy Russian heavy attack UAV, the S-70 Okhotnik was shot down near Konstantinovka in annexed DPR of Ukraine today.

While one version says that the drone was shot down by a missile from a Ukrainian Su-27 jet, another version blames it on a faulty data link that identified the “loyal wingman” which is supposed to take commands from  a  Su-57 stealth jet, as an enemy object.

Photos and videos of  the shooting as well as that of debris from the crash site have appeared in various social media.

Based on the footage, one can only conclude that the heavy drone which is nearly as big as a small aircraft, was indeed shot down in the sky by an air-to-air missile.

The generally reliable Russian Weapons telegram channel says that the latest S-70 Okhotnik-B reconnaissance and attack UAV “was intercepted over enemy territory during "friendly fire" by an R-74M missile launched from a Su-57's internal weapons bay due to a failure of the KDL-I tactical information exchange and target distribution channel, operating in the frequency range from 960 to 1250 MHz.”

However, the verion of the Ukrainian Su-27 shooting down the S-70 does not ring true as the Okhotnik-B UAV has a low radar signature thanks to its stealth design and flat nozzle which makes it extremely difficult for a missile's homing system to lock on to. However, the Su-57's missiles and target detection system are designed to strike at stealth projectiles.

The S-70 Okhotnik-B has a range exceeding 500km and can fly in conjunction with Su-57 fighter jets as a "loyal wingmen" conducting long-range air combat using R-77-1 missiles based on target designation from the N036 Belka radars of the 5th generation Su-57.

It is intended to be used in highly contested environment by putting the S-57 out of harm's way. Russian forces have been deployed the Su-57 in the Ukraine war while the S-70 was said to be in testing.