Unexpected incident at the front: Su-57 shoots down Russian stealth drone, wreckage falls in Ukrainian-controlled area.

According to reports from military enthusiasts on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides, a peculiar incident occurred on Saturday at the front in Donetsk, where a Russian S-70 "Hunter" heavy drone was shot down. Interestingly, it was not the Ukrainian ground forces that took it down, but rather a Russian Su-57 stealth fighter jet. After the Su-57 engaged, the drone's wreckage fell into an area controlled by Ukrainian forces.

"Image source: Internet"
This event raises questions about why Russian forces would target their own equipment. Analysts suggest that the S-70 may have encountered a technical failure, causing it to lose control. In such cases, the Su-57 pilot would receive orders to destroy the drone to prevent sensitive technology from falling into Ukrainian hands. Reports indicate that the wreckage landed in the Konstantinovka area of Donetsk, likely under Ukrainian control.

It remains unclear whether the S-70 drone was subjected to electronic warfare interference from Ukrainian forces, as Kyiv claims that Russian drones are often suppressed during attacks by Ukrainian electronic warfare methods. The S-70 is a major heavy drone model developed by Russia, with a wingspan of approximately 20 meters and a weight of around 20 tons. The design of the prototype began in 2018, and it seems that two more units have been added this year. The recent deployment of the S-70 to the front lines could be part of preparations for practical testing, making interference from Ukrainian forces possible.

Russia has a history of testing weapon performance in real combat conditions, including the Su-57, which has participated in numerous operational missions in Ukraine. However, the use of the Su-57 is approached with caution to avoid losing it to Ukrainian forces due to unforeseen circumstances.

The S-70 drone, serving as an unmanned wingman for the Su-57, is designed to assist in various combat missions while keeping the Su-57 from entering dangerous airspace. Video footage shows the S-70 and Su-57 flying in formation, with the S-70 seemingly firing an R-74M2 infrared-guided air-to-air missile before the Su-57 decisively shot down the drone.

This incident indicates that the newly developed S-70 drone has already suffered a loss. Nevertheless, to prevent sensitive technology from being captured by Ukrainian forces, such sacrifices are deemed necessary. Once the S-70 enters mass production, more units of this type will be built, and isolated losses on the battlefield are unlikely to affect the drone's overall development.