Russia Working To Pair Its Combat Jets With Its Drones

A Russian Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy UCAV and Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet made their first paired flight in September 2019. TASS 

Defense One: Russia Is Working to Pair Combat Jets and Drones, Too 

In moves to match the U.S. military, experiments are aimed at producing mixed air regiments that are tied into a wider battlefield network. 

The United States isn’t the only country working to pair fighter jets with heavy drones. Russia is looking to bring together its advanced Sukhoi Su-57 fighter and its S-70 Okhotnik heavy reconnaissance and strike drone in mixed air regiments, according to Russian news outlet Izvestia. 

The Su-57, first flown in 2010, is Russia’s most advanced fighter. Russia expects to have 76 of them by 2028, according to CNA analyst Sam Bendett. 

The S-70 Okhotnik is still in development. The two were “ designed as interoperable as far as their weapons systems go, and their communications,” said Bendett. 

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WNU Editor: This will be the future of air combat.