End of aerial tests of a developed model of the Russian "Sayyad" heavy drone

Russian media reported that the Chkalov plant in Western Siberia will begin serial production of the Russian reconnaissance strike drone "Hunter" next summer (2024).

 Tests of the modified S-70B model have been completed. There is some information indicating that the "Hunter" was used during air tests in the Special Diabetic Operation area. But the Russian Ministry of Defense did not confirm this information.

Initial modifications were made to the developed model, compared to the previous model that was designed 10 years ago by the Sukhoi company, which at that time signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defense regarding the manufacture of a sixth-generation airborne platform.

TASS reported, citing a source in the Russian Aerospace Forces, that the Ministry of Defense would receive several dozen Okhotnik S-70B drones.

The combat payload of the drone has increased from 2.5 tons to 8 tons, making it the largest aerial drone in the world, thanks to the “AL-51” engine used by the fifth-generation “Su-57” fighter, which made “Al-Sayyad” carry missiles. Air-to-air, in addition to air-to-surface missiles.

One of the most important features of the new model is its flat nozzle, which is also used by the Su-57 fighter. The Hunter can be used in cooperation with Su-57 fighters or independently to direct strikes at enemy ground and air targets. The materials used in designing the “Hunter” structure turned it into a stealth drone that is difficult to detect by enemy air defenses.