Russia’s Sukhoi design bureau unveiled two big surprise UAV concepts during Army 2024: an autonomous logistics drone designated S-76, capable of transporting 300 kg to a range of 1000 km, and an air-launched stealthy combat UAV designated S-71.
Both UAVs are impressive out-of-the-box concepts, but in view of Russia’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, the S-71 hogs attention because—not only is it deadly, but Sukhoi officials told Aviation Week that the RuMoD (Russian Defense Ministry) has already given it a production go-ahead!
S-71 Honed by Battlefield Experience In Ukraine
Sukhoi initiated the development of the S-71 UAV to meet RuMoD specifications drafted in 2019, which emphasized multi-mission capability. However, along the way, Sukhoi tweaked the specification to increase range and reduce the drone’s radar cross-section.
Russia’s experience in Ukraine has emphasized the need for greater range and increased survivability. The intensity of the conflict additionally emphasized scalability through reduced production costs.
S-71 Variants
There are two variants of the drone – S-71M Monochrome and S-71K Carpet.
The S-71K performs the role of an air-to-surface cruise missile that can be guided to its target. It features a modular (cluster, high-explosive, and shaped charges) warhead, likely with electro-optical or SALH (Semi-Active Laser Homing) guidance for target acquisition.
Conclusion
The S-71M drone effectively extends the range of stealth fighters deep into layered, air defence-protected airspace without risking pilot life.
The simultaneous use of two variants—one to locate, identify, and designate the target and the other to destroy it with the right warhead—will reduce costs and make the weapon system affordable for widespread use.
Sukhoi is reportedly producing the control and guidance systems in-house, indicating zero dependence on imported components, including microprocessors and other semiconductors.
The combination of S-71K and S-71M variants, externally carried and launched from non-stealthy platforms like the Su-34, would be ideally suited to hunting and destroying adversary AD (air defense) systems deployed along the battlefront. Following such an attack, the S-71M would be recovered and reused repeatedly.
For deep search and destroy strikes on targets, such as F-16s returning to base after a mission, the S-71M variant could be used stand-alone on a one-way mission.
The large size of Russian fighters gives them the ability to carry large missiles with long range. The S-71 will have a range and target detection capability that will allow Ukrainian F-16s to run but not hide in the distant interiors of the country.
