Russian Aerospace Forces pilots flying the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 may soon have drones serving as “loyal wingmen,” assisting in the operations of aircraft in real time.
Rostec Managing Director Yuri Koptev told reporters that the state defense conglomerate has continued to develop the S-70 Oknotnik-B, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) that could serve as a support aircraft for the stealth fighter.
The drones’ loyalty would be unquestionable, but the level of autonomy may be less than expected.
According to a report from Army Recognition, citing Koptev, “a two-seat variant of the Su-57 is being developed specifically to command and control up to four Okhotnik drones simultaneously,” with the unmanned systems being employed in a variety of roles that could include “swarming tactics, saturation strikes, and real-time intelligence sharing.”
In contrast, the drones could further be employed to act as “decoys, jammers, or strike elements.” It added, “The Su-57 pilot can maintain a safe distance while shaping the battlespace.”
Are Two-Seater Aircraft Required for Loyal Wingmen?
There is no denying that this could be seen as a significant leap forward with drones supporting a manned fighter, but it still means that a combat systems officer will be responsible for controlling the drones. This could highlight that loyal wingmen still require significant guidance, at least more than a pilot can handle. It is unclear if the U.S. efforts with its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) require a weapons systems officer to direct drones.
If that is the case, it would mean that current fifth-generation fighters in U.S. service, the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, won’t operate with the CCA.
However, as the Okhotnik can allow the Su-57 to maintain that safe distance, it would suggest that the twin-seat F-15EX could serve as a drone command aircraft, staying out of harm’s way while the CCA does the heavy lifting.
Moreover, this could suggest that the U.S. Air Force’s F-47, a sixth-generation manned fighter, and the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX could be produced in two-seat versions to support drones.
Russia’s Loyal Wingman: The S-70 Okhotnik
The recent announcement about the Okhotnik comes amid months of little news, apart from the reports that a Su-57 may have accidentally downed one of the uncrewed aircraft last fall. The Kremlin had revealed a few details about the drone months before and since that incident.
As Harrison Kass explained for The National Interest, Russia has been “developing the S-70 since 2011. Rival firms, MiG and Sukhoi, have been collaborating to build the S-70, which is being billed as a sixth-generation unmanned aerial vehicle.”
The unmanned S-70 is based on the MiG-designed Mikoyan Skat, sharing some technologies with the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57. The drone is reportedly around twenty tons, powered by an AL-31 turbojet engine, the same used on the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter.
According to Russian claims, it can reach a top speed of 1,000 kilometers and a range of 6,000 km. It is equipped with electro-optical targeting and a radio system, as well as other types of reconnaissance equipment. It also has a pair of internal bays that can carry up to 2.8 tons of weapons.
On paper, it is a highly capable wingman. The more significant issue is when and when it will be fielded. Russia continues to struggle to produce the Su-57 in substantial numbers, and it is unclear how many twin-seat models are now in service.
The Okhotnik heavy attack drone’s rollout has hardly instilled confidence in the system.
It performed its debut flight, lasting just over twenty minutes under an operator’s control, on August 3, 2019. Not much was heard about it until test flights were also carried out in the summer of 2023, possibly to dispel the rumors that it was little more than vaporware.
Last August, Vladimir Artyakov, deputy general director at Rostec, told RIA Novosti that the initial pilot batch of S-70s was in production at the company’s Novosibirsk aircraft plant. However, details were still sparse, and no numbers or timeline for the first unmanned aircraft’s delivery were available.
The Okhotnik was also absent from last summer’s Army 2024 Military-Technical Forum in Russia, resulting in speculation that Artyakov was merely blowing smoke.
Koptev’s recent comments may be just more of the same, with just enough details to keep us guessing.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock/ Fasttailwind.
