--- title: "Watch Russia’s Combat Drone Fly Next to a Fighter Jet" description: "Heavy Strike Drone Russia’s secretive uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) called S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) just took to the skies for the first time, according to a statement by Russian news agency TASS. The stealthy drone could offer the Russian military a way to penetrate air spaces without being detected — but that’s mostly conjecture at […]" date: "2019-09-27" modified: "2019-09-27" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russia-unmanned-combat-air-drone-jet" categories: - "Drones" - "Robotics" - "Robots and Machines" tags: - "air combat" - "drones" - "Russia" - "stealth planes" - "the digest" --- # Watch Russia’s Combat Drone Fly Next to a Fighter Jet ![The video uploaded by the Russia Defense Ministry shows the unusual combat drone aircraft take off next to a Russian S-57 advanced combat jet.]() *\Image: Russian Defense Ministry\* ## Heavy Strike Drone Russia's secretive uncrewed combat air vehicle, the S-70 Okhotnik-B just took to the skies accompanied by a fighter jet for the first time, according to [a statement]() by Russian news agency TASS. The footage is pretty incredible. The video, uploaded by the Russian Defense Ministry, shows the unusual aircraft take off next to a Russian S-57 advanced combat jet, in a flight that lasted for more than 30 minutes. https://youtu.be/fquWMUBO6Ag ## Hunter-B The stealthy drone, also known as the Hunter-B, could offer the Russian military a way to penetrate air spaces without being detected. The video could also herald a future in which fighter jet pilots could be accompanied by one or more of these stealth drones to improve their view of the battlefield, [*The Drive* suggests](). "As part of the ongoing test program, the Okhotnik drone performed a flight in the automated mode in its full configuration, entering the airborne alert area," the ministry said in the statement. ## Jet Accompaniment The top secret heavy strike stealth drone has been in development for an unknown number of years. Back in August, Russia's Ministry of Defense [released footage]() of the drone taking off for the first time. The ministry is hoping to start deliveries of the S-70 in 2025, according to the statement. Heavily armed tests will take place as soon as 2023. **READ MORE:** [Watch Russia's S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First Time]() \[*The Drive*\] **More on the stealth drone:** *[Russia’s Top Secret Heavy Strike Stealth Drone Takes Flight]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()