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S-71 low-observable tactical loitering munition

The Su-71K , also known as the "Carpet ," is part of the S-71 family of UAVs/pseudo-missiles developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau since 2019. The system combines features of a UAV and a stealth cruise missile— a hybrid of both platforms. A simplified version designed for external mounting on the Su-57 . Essentially, it functions as an air-to-ground guided missile with a cluster munition warhead.

The S-71M ("Monochrome") is a more sophisticated, autonomous version capable of loitering over a target, selecting it, and, if necessary, attacking. It is equipped with electronic and optical night vision systems, a thermal imager, and even a thermal imaging camera. The C71M has a trapezoidal fuselage for low visibility, a folding swept wing, inverted V-shaped stabilizers and a rear-mounted air intake. The engine used is reportedly a turbojet TRDD-50 , unified with the Kh-101 and Kh-59M missiles .

The S-71M is equipped with a system including the NeuroMatrix neural network module , which enables real-time target recognition and AI-based decision-making, as well as a communications system with the Su-57 operator/pilot . The hybrid control mechanism allows for both autonomous operation and control from the ground or from the aircraft (multiple communication channels are available).

The new low-observable tactical missile S-71 for hitting static and moving targets was developed by the Tactical Missiles Concern as part of the Su-57 fighter aircraft ammunition upgrade program. The product will be structurally and hardware-software adapted for use in the ammunition load of Su-30SM2 and Su-35S fighters. The Russian company Sukhoi unveiled a prototype of a new S-71 jet-powered attack drone designed to be integrated with Su-57 fighter jets . The UAV is designed to expand the combat capabilities of the Su-57 by providing it with additional functions such as reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and a direct attack mode. The earliest media report about the new drones appeared in November 2023, citing insider information. And at the end of July 2024, the head of the Rostec state corporation, Sergei Chemezov, officially confirmed the inclusion of these UAVs in the arsenal of Russian fifth-generation aircraft.

The development of this multi-role drone began in 2019. With the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the process was accelerated and simplified to ensure rapid mass production. Sukhoi created its own production line for control and guidance systems to reduce dependence on external component suppliers. Sukhoi says it has refined the current S-71 design from the original 2019 specification to increase range and reduce radar signature, drawing on lessons learned from the SVO in Ukraine. In doing so, the design bureau was forced to abandon its original goal of creating a multi-purpose system and simplify the design to facilitate mass production of the munition. On 18 April 2024, the company began testing the S-71 at the Russian flight research center in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.

The S-71 exists in two variants. The S-71K "Kover" or "Karpet", which operates as an air-to-ground guided missile, and the more advanced S-71M "Monochrome", designed to be suspended in the internal weapons bay of the Su-57. The latter has a purely reconnaissance purpose, for which it is equipped with appropriate optical-electronic equipment.

Several methods of targeting guided airborne weapons against front-line aircraft are known: a radio command method of guidance, a method of guidance by radar radiation, a method of guidance by external target designation to a laser illumination source, and a method of targeting a target with pre-known coordinates.

During radio command guidance of aircraft weapons, the crew adjusts the flight path of the weapons according to data received from the television head for guidance of the weapons. The disadvantages of this method of guidance include the following: dependence of the quality of guidance on weather conditions, i.e. the use of weapons in rain, fog or heavy haze is significantly more difficult; relatively short range of application, which is limited by the capabilities of the data transmission channel, i.e. it is required that the carrier aircraft be located at a short distance from the weapon; exposure of the weapon to interference, i.e. There is a need to ensure stable radio communications to enable continuous guidance.

When implementing the method of aiming aircraft weapons at a radio-emitting target, the sensitive element of the weapon constantly receives the signal emitted by the target. Accordingly, to be able to use this method, the target must continuously emit radio waves. If the target stops emitting radio waves, the targeting accuracy of the weapon is reduced and further guidance can only be carried out by predicting the coordinates of the radiation point. In this case, the target must emit radio waves at a certain frequency at which the sensitive element of the weapon operates. In addition, the sensitive element of the weapon must receive preliminary target designation from the electronic reconnaissance system of the carrier aircraft.

The method of aiming aircraft weapons at a laser illumination source is carried out using reflection of a signal from the target and reception of the signal by the sensitive element of the weapon, with the signal source being an external element of the guidance system. Accordingly, the signal passage depends on weather conditions, i.e. the use of weapons in rain, fog or heavy haze is significantly more difficult. The disadvantage of this method of guidance is also the need for an external illumination source and the relatively short range of use of the weapon, which is limited by the capabilities of the external illumination source and the sensitivity of the receiving element of the weapon.

Sukhoi Design Bureau continues to develop a new munition for its stealth Su-57, which has not yet been seen in combat. An autonomous means of destruction capable of destroying a wide range of objects, including targets of a known type with unknown coordinates in a given search area at a considerable distance from the carrier aircraft. The device independently makes a decision to destroy the target according to the target database and the corresponding target priority table, or the operator makes a decision to destroy the target.

Intelligence information about detected targets, telemetry information about the operability and location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and video footage of the target before it is destroyed are transmitted to the ground control center or air command post. The combat platform can search, detect and engage targets using guidance data stored on board the carrier. Sukhoi claims that the system can be used by the operator in real time for targeting.

The device does not require preliminary target designation. The flight of the S-71 is carried out by following the terrain at altitudes of 20-75 m above the ground and 5-15 m above the water. A prospective digital inertial navigation system with a GLONASS/GPS correction module, a radar altimeter, and an optical-electronic correlation sensor are used to guide the S-71 to the target. It is also possible to use a bispectral medium- and long-wave IRGSN with working wavelengths of 3-5 and 8-12 microns, respectively.

The optical system of the unmanned aerial vehicle, together with the on-board intelligent search and guidance system based on trained neural networks, ensures autonomous detection and recognition of targets and guidance of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the target. When using a camera operating in the near and/or far infrared wavelength range, detection and recognition of targets is possible at any time of the day and in any meteorological conditions.

An on-board intelligent search and guidance system based on trained neural networks allows for autonomous search and independent decision-making to hit targets, which allows the carrier aircraft not to enter the enemy’s air defense coverage area, which ensures the safety of the carrier aircraft and the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle at a considerable distance from the carrier aircraft, and also ensures that the unmanned aerial vehicle conducts reconnaissance and transmits information about detected targets to a ground control post or air command post until one of the targets is hit. Reconnaissance information about detected targets, telemetric information about the performance and location of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and video footage of the target before its defeat is transmitted to the ground control post or air command post.

It is quite obvious from the footage that the missile will have reduced visibility. Something like the Kh-59MK2. The S-71 UAV has a trapezoidal design that minimizes its radar signature, folding swept wings to reduce drag, a V-shaped tail for stability, and a small-sized turbojet dual-circuit engine with a thrust of 175-220 kg. The TRDD-50 turbofan engine, similar to that used in the cruise missiles Kh-59M and Kh-101, provides the aircraft with a speed of 0.1-0.6 Mach. The ceiling is 8000 meters. The mass and dimensions of the product are noticeably smaller than those of the Kh-59MK2.

The estimated mass of the penetrating-fragmentation-high-explosive warhead can reach 100-150 kg, The warhead is located inside the fuselage of the unmanned aerial vehicle. An unmanned aerial vehicle can be equipped with different types of warheads: a high-explosive charge, a high-explosive fragmentation charge, a high-explosive fragmentation incendiary charge or a shaped charge. The ability to deploy various types of projectiles as the warhead of an unmanned aerial vehicle ensures the destruction of a wide range of targets.

The UAV has a modular warhead, an electro-optical guidance system, and an automatic mode for detecting and engaging targets. Control is carried out via a communication channel with the operator. Among several warhead options, the S-71M can be equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation charge and a shaped charge. In turn, the S-71K is known to be able to use a cluster warhead. The S-71K is designed to be launched from external hardpoints of the carrier aircraft, while the "M" version can also be placed in the internal bomb bay of the Su-57 fighter or the S-70 Okhotnik attack drone.

The expected EOP [effective reflective surface] of the product is about 0.007-0.01 sq. m at a flight speed of 0.95 M and a range of 200-350 km. The cross-sectional shape of the fuselage of an unmanned aerial vehicle is essentially a trapezoid with the sides “sloping” inwards relative to the plane of symmetry of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The swept wing and two-fin all-moving tail of the unmanned aerial vehicle are inclined at an angle relative to the plane of symmetry of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The air intake and nozzle are located out of line of sight when viewing the aircraft from below. This design of the unmanned aerial vehicle ensures minimization of peaks in the reflection of radio waves from its surface, which ensures minimization of the effective scattering surface, i.e. low radar signature of an unmanned aerial vehicle.

The plumage of the unmanned aerial vehicle consists of a swept wing and a two-fin all-moving tail. The swept wing and two-fin all-moving tail are designed to be foldable. The swept wing includes right and left folding consoles. The two-fin all-moving tail includes right and left folding consoles. In the transport position, the swept wing consoles are retracted under the lower surface of the fuselage with an overlap. In the flight position, the swept wing consoles rotate and occupy a flight position. In the transport position, the consoles of the two-fin all-moving tail are folded along the side surface of the fuselage. In the flight position, the consoles of the two-fin all-moving tail rotate and occupy a flight position and are a continuation of the side generatrix of the fuselage. Making the consoles of the swept wing and the two-fin all-moving tail of the unmanned aerial vehicle foldable ensures a reduction in the dimensions of the unmanned aerial vehicle, minimization of aerodynamic drag during transportation, as well as the possibility of placing the unmanned aerial vehicle in the internal compartments of the carrier aircraft.

Sukhoi patented the S-71M UAV configuration in November 2023 for an air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle loitering munition, intended for single use. The air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle with a combat charge was created designed to destroy a wide range of operationally scouted stationary and moving objects in counteraction conditions with automatic recognition of the type of target and making a decision to defeat it. The design bureau also reported that the production of the product's control and guidance systems had been transferred to its own enterprises.

The unmanned aerial vehicle is autonomous and does not require preliminary target designation, has low radar signature, small dimensions, low aerodynamic resistance, has the ability to be used against a wide range of targets at any time of the day and in any weather conditions, ensures maximum damage, and can be used on a significant distance from the carrier aircraft, ensures the safety of the carrier aircraft, increases the likelihood of detecting and hitting a target, both openly located and hidden, allows for incidental reconnaissance and information transfer, has a simple design, is cheap and available in mass production.

The unmanned aerial vehicle is transported on the carrier aircraft's hardpoint. The unmanned aerial vehicle can be controlled both from a carrier aircraft, which plays the role of an air command post, and from a mobile ground control post, and is also completely autonomous. During the transportation of an unmanned aerial vehicle, information about the performance of the unmanned aerial vehicle and its readiness for launch is transmitted to the carrier aircraft or a mobile ground control point. Information exchange is carried out before and after separation of the unmanned aerial vehicle from the carrier aircraft within the range of the communications complex.

The launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle is carried out to the line of combat contact. Next, the unmanned aerial vehicle carries out an autonomous flight along the route specified in the flight mission using navigation system sensors. When entering a given target area, the unmanned aerial vehicle begins a search along the route specified in the flight mission or builds an independent optimal search route in the given target area. Data from the camera of the unmanned aerial vehicle and information about detected and/or recognized targets in real time are transmitted to the air command post or to the mobile ground control post.

Further, when a target is detected, two fundamentally different options for using an unmanned aerial vehicle are possible. In the first option, the unmanned aerial vehicle operates autonomously, without the use of a mobile ground control post and an air command post. In the second option, the unmanned aerial vehicle operates using external target designation together with a mobile ground control point via the communication system of the unmanned aerial vehicle with the ground control point "BBVS-NPU" (Fig. 2) or with an air command post via the communication system of the unmanned aerial vehicle with the air command post "BBVS-VKP".

In the case of using the tactics of an unmanned aerial vehicle in autonomous mode, the target is hit as follows. After detecting and autonomously recognizing a target (without operator participation), the unmanned aerial vehicle independently makes a decision to hit the target according to the target database and the corresponding target priority table. To implement this application, the unmanned aerial vehicle has the ability to automatically detect and recognize as many target types as possible. At the same time, the connection of the unmanned aerial vehicle with the ground control point (“BBVS-NPU”) or with the air command control post (“BBVS-VKP”) can be maintained to be able to transmit information about the state of the unmanned aerial vehicle, its coordinates, types and coordinates of detected targets .

Autonomous tactics of an unmanned aerial vehicle have the following advantages. There is no need for external target designation, i.e. the unmanned aerial vehicle independently searches for a target in the search area using an optical system. The separation of the unmanned aerial vehicle occurs before the line of combat contact, which makes it possible not to put the expensive carrier aircraft at risk and ensure the safety of the carrier aircraft. After the unmanned aerial vehicle is launched from the carrier aircraft, the unmanned aerial vehicle is completely autonomous, i.e. has complete independence from the carrier aircraft, and the carrier aircraft can return to its home airfield or carry out tasks in accordance with its flight mission. Thus, the unmanned aerial vehicle is characterized by a long range of use.

In the second variant of using an unmanned aerial vehicle, the operator makes a decision to hit the target. In this case, detection and recognition of detected target types is carried out automatically by an unmanned aerial vehicle, and target marking is carried out by the operator. In this case, the target can also be marked by the operator without automatic detection and recognition by the unmanned aerial vehicle.

In both cases, after switching to the “Attack” mode, the unmanned aerial vehicle autonomously forms a flight path to the target to destroy it. If the target is not found within the allotted time, then the unmanned aerial vehicle destroys the target with pre-known coordinates specified in the flight mission.

If several targets are detected in the search area, the unmanned aerial vehicle can transmit information about them to the ground control post or air command post. Detected targets can be hit either by newly launched unmanned aerial vehicles or other fire weapons, for example, cannon or rocket artillery, army or front-line aviation, to which information about the detected targets will be transmitted for their further destruction.

During the flight time of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the ground control point or air command post can receive the following information in real time: data on the performance and serviceability of the unmanned aerial vehicle systems, navigation and other information about the unmanned aerial vehicle, information about detected and recognized targets (type target and its coordinates), recording the results of combat use (a video segment or graphic image transmitted by an unmanned aerial vehicle shortly before hitting the target in order to solve the problem of recording the result of combat use). Rapid transmission of information from an unmanned aerial vehicle to a ground control point or air command post is used to assess detected targets in a given area, as well as as training material for a neural network to detect and recognize new types of targets.

As is known, the Sukhoi Design Bureau did not make cruise missiles before, this was done by the Raduga Design Bureau and others. And it seems how a gluttonous company is trying to snatch not only the sawn-off Su-57 mega-project, but also the weapons for it, which are also not cheap, maybe that is why it is “not a missile” of the air-to-surface class, but a UAV-transformer.

This solution, Russian experts noted, is more reminiscent of a cruise missile. However, according to the developers' plan, the S-71 should return to their owners after completing a combat mission. But so far, technical details of how the S-71 should land for their reuse have not been announced. The Sukhoi Design Bureau (UAC) developed a new air-launched kamikaze UAV-transformer. Actually, it has always been called a cruise missile, but now it is fashionable to call it a UAV. So this thing is called "S-71". This is cruise missile alright, but why calling it UAV ? To prevent Raduga from getting angry ? They already working Kh-69 for Su-57. Legacy of Soviet era, namely design bureau rivalry are still apparent.

It was previously reported that the production of S-70 Okhotnik large drones would begin in the Russian Federation in the near future . This UAV is designed to operate in tandem with the Su-57, which allows it to enhance the capabilities of the radar and target designation, as well as use long-range weapons outside the enemy's air defense zone.