Reportedly Capable Of Carrying Ordnance Weighing Two Metric Tons

Photos of what is reported to be Russian Sukhoi Okhotnik (Hunter) heavy drone prototype have surfaced on the internet.

Janes reports that the first image began circulating on Russian social media on January 23, with several more showing up the following day. They show an aircraft that looks very much like the MQ-25 being developed for the U.S. Navy. The images were likely captured by a plane spotter near the runway at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant.

When compared to the size of the tractor towing the aircraft, the drone has an wingspan estimated at about 62 feet. It's landing gear look similar to the gear installed on Russia's SU-57 next-generation multirole airplane. In the photos, the turbofan exhaust is unshrouded, which may indicate they are not the final design. There is a single, dorsal-mounted air intake for the engine.

TASS reported in July of last year that the Okhotnik was to have made its first flight before the end of 2018, citing unnamed sources. That same report indicated that the drone was constructed using composite materials and treated with a "stealth" coating that can absorb radiation.

(Image from VK/Military Informant)

FMI: Source report