The first demonstration of the updated version of the heavy attack drone S-70 "Hunter" with a flat jet nozzle took place yesterday in Novosibirsk. The foreign media did not ignore this event.
The Russian "Hunter" will be more inconspicuous than previously thought, writes the French edition of Meta Defense. The new nozzle will provide the drone with stealth, which, in turn, will allow it to strike deep into the enemy's defenses. The large payload allows the drone to carry the most modern ammunition, which in the short term will provide the Russian Aerospace Forces with a significant tactical advantage.
"In fact, with the S-70, the Russian aviation industry is clearly regaining its dominant position in the field of combat drones, despite a certain initial delay compared to China and the United States," Meta Defense writes. And he notes that European countries are not developing any programs comparable to those implemented in the Russian Federation, China and the United States.
The American edition of The Drive also believes that the Russian "Hunter" has become more perfect. A completely redesigned flat nozzle will provide a significant reduction in the infrared and radar signatures of the drone. The authors of the article Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogovey also note that the new version of the drone as a whole "has become more refined" - there are fewer seams and joints on the outer skin, which also contributes to low visibility.
One of the most remarkable features of the Hunter, the authors call its maximum take-off weight, which, according to open sources, is about 20-25 tons. Such indicators provide the drone with a high degree of autonomy with a significant combat load.
In general, the latest version of the S-70 represents a leap in Russia's ability to use stealth technologies, The Drive points out. At the same time, the development of stealth technologies for the updated Hunter will bring significant benefits to the Russian aerospace industry, which continues to work on projects of new-generation combat aircraft and drones.
"However, even more important is the fact that the Hunter is on the way to becoming a real inconspicuous combat aircraft. Thus, it will probably open up completely new opportunities for the Russian armed forces when it enters service," writes The Drive.
Recall that some details of the development of the "Hunter" have also recently become known. Then it was reported that the flat nozzle is only one of the technical solutions that are being considered at the moment. The expected delivery dates of drones to the troops remain - from 2024.
Ilya Maksimov
