US and UK Also "Search"... What Is the Russian 'Superdrone' That Crashed in Ukraine?

The Russian military's 'super drone' S-70, which has been secretly developed for several years, is believed to have crashed in eastern Ukraine after being hit by friendly fire. While the exact circumstances of the incident remain a mystery, there are speculations that spies from the US, UK, and Ukraine may engage in a 'wreckage hunt.' This is seen as a golden opportunity to acquire the advanced aerodynamics technology that Russia has accumulated over time.

On the 5th (local time), the foreign defense technology media outlet Warzone reported that the S-70 recently crashed near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. This information was first obtained by open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts, and the aircraft was initially thought to be a Russian older generation fighter jet, the SU-25, but was later corrected to the S-70.

Large combat drone S-70 with fighter jet-sized dimensions [Image source=Capture from X]

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The S-70 is an unmanned aerial drone but is a full-fledged military aircraft, unlike the small drones currently used mainly on the Ukrainian battlefield. It is called a UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle), meaning an unmanned 'combat' drone. Its size rivals that of a typical fighter jet, and its maximum speed and payload capacity (the weight of missiles, bombs, etc., that can be carried) are estimated to be at fighter jet levels. It is also presumed to possess a high level of stealth capability.

The Russian military first unveiled this aircraft in 2019, but detailed information has been kept strictly confidential. Since then, the S-70 has occasionally been seen flying in formation with other Russian fighter jets, sparking curiosity among Western officials.

The exact circumstances of how this 'super drone' ended up crashing alone in eastern Ukraine have not yet been disclosed. However, Warzone, citing OSINT experts' data, suggested the possibility that the Russian military was testing a secret weapon and that it was accidentally shot down due to a misunderstanding by a Russian Air Force pilot.

The moment the drone crashes (left), debris presumed to be from the wing of an S-70 [Image source=Capture from X]

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This is not the first time a secret weapon shrouded in mystery has been lost by mistake. Previously, the US Air Force lost its latest stealth drone, the RQ-170, in Iranian airspace in 2011. In complex battlefields densely equipped with air defense and electronic warfare systems, there is a sufficient possibility that new weapons could experience 'system malfunctions.'

Warzone explained that the drone's debris is likely to become a target for Western intelligence agencies in the future. Aircraft or rocket fragments contain crucial information that can gauge a country's capabilities in aerodynamics, materials engineering, and precision machinery manufacturing. This could provide clues about what kind of aerospace research the Russian military has conducted and how advanced their technology is.

South Korea is also putting great effort into recovering debris from North Korean rockets. Last year, when North Korea launched a rocket carrying a military reconnaissance satellite but failed, the South Korean military initiated salvage operations to retrieve rocket debris that fell into the sea.

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