MOSCOW, 12 Feb-RIA Novosti. Novosibirsk Aircraft Factory. Chkalova (NAZ) is building three more prototypes of the S-70 Hunter heavy strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a source in the military-industrial complex told RIA Novosti.
He did not specify the degree of assembly of each sample, but noted that the design of the second device will make changes based on the experience of the first "Hunter", flight tests of which began in August 2019.
"The improvements will, in particular, relate to the systems of avionics and airframe design elements," the source continued.
He also added that the third and fourth drones "will actually correspond to the production version of the Hunter."
The United Aircraft Corporation declined to comment to RIA Novosti on the information provided by the source.
As previously reported by another agency source in the military-industrial complex, serial UAVs will be equipped with AL-41F engines without an afterburner. These powerplants will fit into the dimensions of the fuselage, and, accordingly, the devices will receive a standard flat nozzle to further reduce their thermal and radar visibility.
The source also noted that the S-70 heavy UAV will become a multifunctional machine with the ability to work on all types of both air and ground targets. In the concept of combat use of the "Hunter", a bet is made on reducing visibility in all ranges, a longer flight range, the use of long-range precision weapons and high intellectualization of the board.
The S-70 "Hunter" was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau (part of the United Aircraft Corporation of the state Corporation "Rostec") and is made according to the "flying wing"aerodynamic scheme. According to open sources, the length of the drone is 14 meters, the wingspan is 19 meters, the take-off weight is 20 tons. The subsonic maximum flight speed of the Hunter is up to 1000 kilometers per hour. The device is made with the use of materials that reduce radar visibility.
The first flight of the newest drone, as reported in the Ministry of Defense, took place on August 3, 2019. According to sources of RIA Novosti, the first sample of the "Hunter" has already begun to use weapons in tests. In particular, the device performed flights with functional simulators of air — to-air missiles, and also bombed a ground target at the Ashuluk test site.
As the head of the UAC, Yuri Slyusar, said in August 2020, the corporation plans to begin serial deliveries of" Hunters " to the Aerospace Forces from 2024.
