According to War Zone , photos of the wreckage of the Russian S-70 Okhotnik-B stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UCAV) that crashed in the Donetsk region on October 5 show that the aircraft was armed while operating in Ukrainian airspace. This is also rare evidence of the S-70 participating in combat missions in Ukraine, including combat missions.

According to War Zone, the S-70 that had the accident was the fourth prototype of the UCAV line. It was shot down by another Russian Su-57 stealth fighter after the UCAV lost control and flew deep into Ukrainian airspace.

Videos recorded by witnesses show the Su-57 shooting down the S-70 with an air-to-air missile, the UCAV exploding and falling to the ground in flames. However, the attack did not completely destroy the S-70, many parts of the UCAV remained intact after falling to the ground.

Among the parts of the S-70 that remained intact were the main wings and some other components.

However, what experts are more concerned about is that in the wreckage of the S-70 aircraft appeared an object that looked like a UMPB D-30SN guided bomb. This missile model has never appeared in the equipment list of the S-70.

Compared to UMPK bomb models, UMPB D-30SN is considered more modern and has always been a "nightmare" for Ukrainian air defense since this bomb model was put into use in early 2023.

The design of the UMPB D-30SN is similar to the US GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. The new Russian bomb is said to use a satellite guidance system and it is not yet clear whether the weapon is programmed with the target coordinates after takeoff. The range of the UMPB D-30SN remains a mystery.

The integration of the UMPB D-30SN for the S-70 is considered suitable when the UCAV line has a stealth design with weapon pylons hidden inside the fuselage. The UMPB D-30SN itself can also be integrated for the Su-57 stealth fighter.

So far, there is little specific information about the weapons the S-70 can or will carry, although the Russian Defense Ministry has said the UCAV can perform air-to-air missions. In terms of basic features, the S-70 is suitable for high-altitude reconnaissance and ground fire support.

The UMPB D-30SN is a relatively new weapon that may have been developed to meet the needs of the war in Ukraine, namely the need for a low-cost long-range strike weapon with precision guidance capabilities.

However, War Zone also has another possibility that the UMPB D-30SN found near the S-70 wreckage was dropped by another Russian aircraft to completely destroy this UCAV. This action is necessary because if Ukraine or NATO accesses important parts of the S-70, they will have access to the technology that creates the most modern UAV of the Russian Air Force.

Regardless of the reason why Russia had to shoot down the S-70 itself, the fact that the UCAV was able to operate freely and undetected inside Ukrainian airspace is a success. Ukraine's air defense, with the support of the West, is constantly expanding and is creating many threats to the Russian air force, and the appearance of the S-70 and the UMPB D-30SN bomb can be considered a safe solution.

It is still unclear how many S-70s the Russian Air Force has in service, with previous reports indicating four prototypes. The fourth prototype was shot down in an incident on October 5.

The project to develop the S-70 Okhotnik UAV was said to have started by the Sukhoi corporation in 2011, with the prototype aircraft making its first flight on August 3, 2019.

The S-70 is made of specialized composite materials, possibly similar to the type used to make the Su-57. Each is 14m long and has a wingspan of 20m, weighing nearly 20 tons, nearly twice as much as a MiG-29 or F-16 fighter, and four times as much as similar UAVs like the US X-47B.

The Okhotnik is designed to operate alongside the Su-57 stealth fighter, replacing manned aircraft in dangerous missions. The Okhotnik first flew alongside the Su-57 in a 30-minute test in September 2019, in which the two aircraft flew in formation with a few meters between them.