ZHUKOVSKY (Moscow region). Aug 28 (Interfax) - The delivery of serial Okhotnik heavy attack drones to the Russian Aerospace Forces will begin in 2025, according to the office of Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov.
"A prototype of the Okhotnik heavy reconnaissance-and-attack drone performed its maiden flight on August 3, 2019. Plenty of tests have yet to be done before a serial drone is built. The delivery of serial vehicles to the Aerospace Forces will begin in 2025," a spokesman for the office told Interfax on Wednesday.
Drones of the type are extremely complex and require numerous ground and flight tests, he said.
"Most flight tests will be performed in 2023-2024, including in the combat configuration carrying various types of air-launched weapons," the spokesman said.
Okhotnik will constitute a universal platform "to carry prospective air-launched weapons, aerial reconnaissance systems, and other equipment," he said.
The Okhotnik long-range heavy attack drone took off for the first time from a testing airfield of the Russian Defense Ministry on August 3, 2019.
Okhotnik's performance characteristics have not been disclosed. According to information accessible to the public, its takeoff mass is 20 tonnes, which makes the drone one of the heaviest unmanned aerial vehicle being developed.
A mockup of Okhotnik was presented for the first time at the Army 2019 forum in June. The exhibit's description said that it has a length of 19 meters and a wing span of 14 meters. The dimensions are comparable with those of the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet.