Russian Hunter-B Flying Wing UAV Breaks Cover

Data probes for testing?Its a wonder no one has given it the nickname X47binski...

Just another Horten flying wing, Maaayn, those Germans were so so far ahead one wonders how they lost in 45.

a reply to: Soloprotocol

Even the most advanced tech won't do you any good if you don't have the resources to produce and deploy it in sufficient numbers.

www.ruaviation.com...

Do we believe them?

a reply to: anzha

They have probably already started to build them. This drone had probably completed its testing phase when the media/YouTube got a hold of the first images.

a reply to: anzha

What are they hoping to do with it? Autonomous, medium range stealth bomber?

Probably missing autonomy, stealth and medium range?

loyal wingman for strike. Something like what the UCLASS was going to be, but ground based.

www.thedrive.com...

originally posted by: anzha
www.thedrive.com...

Hard to get a perspective but it looks a big bird and that looks and sounds like a meaty engine. I suppose it’s still quite LO and the combination of this as a loyal wingman is still a force multiplier.

Wonder how autonomous it is?

How good us Russian GPS?

a reply to: anzha

Just musing about this, we quote the saying ‘form follows function’ on here in relation to why some of these vehicles look the same.

The Loyal Wingman’s though seem much different to flying wings so far.

the X-37 (?? I’m think UCLASS now refueller), didn’t that start out as a carrier loyal wingman type?

I wonder if we have learned that this form is ok for surveillance but not suited to loyal wingman, could it be dash speed?

a reply to: Forensick

The X-47 began under J-UCAS. The X-47B was part of UCAS-D for the Navy after J-UCAS was split into Air Force and Navy programs.

a reply to: Forensick

The Ohotnik is clearly meant to be a strike aircraft. However, she could, potentially, carry missiles if the data links are good.

The Ohotnik is only 3 ft greater wingspan than the X-47B and appears to be about 3 ft shorter (roughly a meter for those outside the US). She's big, but not giant. Its a flying wing rather than a cranked kite though.

She doesn't, yet, have all aspect stealth if she ever will. However, the Russians claim to not be sold on all aspect stealth. IMO, they don't have the technical capability for VLO, except in handcrafted prototypes.

The primary difference between the Ohotnik and the other current Loyal Wingman UAVs is the design philosophy. The design philosophy of the Ohotnik is the opposite of the American POV with the attritable drones. This is a 'high end' drone rather than a reusable weapon like the attrits like the Valk.

I may be wrong. The Russians may be testing the Ohotnik with AAMs.

www.thedrive.com...

Bear protection?

a reply to: Blackfinger

Being tested with the SU-57 as a Loyal Wingman.

a reply to: anzha
How long till they send them to Syria for trials..?

a reply to: Soloprotocol

Perhaps they lost because they weren't the only ones doing high tech research. Northrop was doing this back in the 30s and had a good performer by 1940. The allies decided to build what they knew worked though and didn't spend time making their jet fighters into bombers and dumping all their research into the tech. Along with having no resources of course.

Weapons tests on the Ohotnik next year.

www.ruaviation.com...

theaviationist.com...

Supposedly, some weapons tests already.