MOSCOW, Dec 27-RIA Novosti. The Russian heavy strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "Hunter" in 2021 as part of flight tests for the first time will use weapons on air targets, a source in the aircraft industry told RIA Novosti.
He added that before that, missile throw tests should be carried out with UAVs.
According to the source, tests of the "Hunter" with the use of air - to-surface weapons are also planned. "The hunter will be a full-fledged multifunctional vehicle with the possibility of using it in a variant of a long-range unmanned fighter-interceptor," he explained.
Earlier, a source in the military-industrial complex told RIA Novosti that the military range Ashuluk held a series of flying "Hunter" with functional simulators guided missiles for evaluation pairing on-Board equipment of the machine with homing ammunition. The simulators were devoid of engine and warhead.
The Ministry of defense officially reported on the first flights of the Hunter drone, during which only its flight qualities and the operation of the main systems were checked.
The Okhotnik developed by the Sukhoi design Bureau will be the first heavy drone with strike functions in the Russian army. The device is made according to the "flying wing" scheme with the use of materials that reduce radar visibility.
According to open sources, the UAV has a length of 14 meters, a wingspan of 19 meters, and a take-off weight of 20 tons. The maximum speed of the "Hunter" reaches 1000 kilometers per hour. The first flight of the device took place on August 3 and lasted more than 20 minutes.
