[R&D] Su-Sokol Strike UCAV

Following the scrapping of the MiG Skat programme and the subsequent resigning of a deal with Sukhoi to continue the Russian UCAV strike programme, Russia has opted to push forward with current plans for the development of the first strike UCAV of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

While previously the plan under MiG was to first produce a manned version, it has been decided by the russian defence ministry to move towards the unmanned version instead in order to prevent habitual error and having to re-develop the craft for UCAV capabilities.

Wingspan: 14m

Armament: up to 2 tonnes of various weapons in the double internal bays

Engine thrust: 1 × Saturn 117S @ 8,800 kgf (86.3 kN, 19,400 lbf)

maximum speed: Mach 1.2

Range: 1,600km

Misc: All the advanced shiny bits an that

Unit Cost: $120mn a piece

The Su-Sokol will experience its first flight in 2020 and will hopefully pass trials and be ready for production come 2022.