Russian Defense Ministry makes first presentation of Okhotnik attack drone
MOSCOW. Aug 7 (Interfax) - The Russian Defense Ministry has posted the first video of the Okhotnik heavy attack drone.
A video of the Okhotnik drone taxing, accelerating, taking off, performing the first flight, and landing was released on social media.
Russia has not commissioned attack drones before.
The long-range heavy drone performed its maiden flight from a testing airfield of the Russian Defense Ministry on August 3, 2019.
According to the ministry, the flight lasted for over 20 minutes. The operator-controlled Okhotnik flew over the airfield for a number of times at an approximate altitude of 600 meters and made a successful landing.
"Okhotnik carries instruments for optical-electronic, radio-technical, and other types of reconnaissance," the ministry said in a statement.
The drone has a flying wing configuration, and "the use of special materials and coatings makes it practically invisible to radars," it said.
Performance characteristics of Okhotnik have not been disclosed. According to general-access information, Okhotnik has a takeoff mass of 20 tonnes, which makes it one of the heaviest drones under construction.