Russia's drone secrets revealed: Western tech in wreckage
Ukrainians have published the results of their analysis of the wreckage of the S-70 Okhotnik prototype strike drone, shot down by the Russians near Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region on October 5. Here's what the Ukrainians discovered.
The Ukrainians completed the analysis of the Russian wreckage, revealing numerous Western electronic components from companies such as Maxim Integrated Products, Infineon Technologies, Xilinx Inc, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Fairchild Semiconductor, and STMicroelectronics.
It is worth noting that some components were manufactured in 2022, suggesting they reached Russian hands after the full-scale war in Ukraine began. Another interesting point is that these are not strictly military components but civilian ones, such as those installed in cars like engine controllers or available for purchase on auction sites or through wholesalers.
How the Russians are acquiring electronics
This makes cutting off Russia from modern electronics almost impossible, similar to the situation with Iran. For example, AMD Xilinx XA7Z010 family components are available for open sale, and it's just a matter of choosing a variant that meets the buyer's minimum performance requirements.
There will always be intermediaries worldwide, such as those from Kazakhstan, willing to supply Russia with electronic components at several times the market price. Another source is dismantling equipment containing the necessary elements, such as household appliances or car wrecks. For instance, in North Korean KN-23 blast missiles, bearings from Toyota cars are utilized due to the lack of dedicated bearings.
S-70 Okhotnik — the Russian loyal wingman for the Su-57
The S-70 Okhotnik is a Russian implementation of the concept of unmanned loyal wingmen being developed by major military forces worldwide. The Russian strike drone by the Sukhoi concern first flew in 2019. According to available information from 2021, three units were to be built besides the prototype.
The unit likely shot down by the Russians themselves over Ukraine could belong to this batch, considering the year of the electronic components used.
In terms of construction, it is a flying wing drone made with stealth technology. Its dimensions are similar to a full-fledged aircraft, with a wingspan of approximately 19 metres, a length of 14 metres, and a takeoff weight of about 25,000 kilograms.
The drone is supposed to have two bomb bays of approximately 4.6 metres in length, capable of carrying a payload of up to 3,000 kilograms in total, allowing for the transport of, for instance, guided bombs FAB with UMPK modules. It is intended to collaborate with fighters such as the Su-57, which also shares the AL-41F1 engine.
