Su-57 fighters will soon receive new weaponry — small-sized tactical drones S-71M "Monokhrom" and S-71K "Kover". The characteristics of the prospective munitions were revealed by "Voennaya Khronika".
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The authors claim that the drones were designed in the form of cruise missiles for placement, including in the internal compartment of the fighter.
Composite materials provide an RCS within 0.01–0.02 m². The drones are equipped with a folding wing with X-shaped empennage to minimize dimensions during storage and electromagnetic wave scattering.
The cruising flight speed is Mach 0.6, and the maximum launch range reaches 300–350 km, which allows overcoming echeloned air defense-missile defense lines without the carrier entering the engagement zone.
The S-71M "Monokhrom" is equipped with a short-life, small-sized turbojet engine and a combined guidance system, including an interference-protected inertial unit with correction, an IIR thermal imaging channel, and a two-way data link.
The S-71K "Kover" modification carries a cluster warhead, while maintaining similar aerodynamic characteristics and low radar visibility, necessary for covert penetration through air defense zones.
The new munitions were first shown at the El Alamein International Airshow 2026.
Military expert Boris Dzherelievsky stated that the design and guidance system of the S-71M increase the missile's resistance to electronic warfare systems.
The publication "Tekhnosfera Rossiya" insisted that the S-71K should be more accurately called a guided module for placing bombs of various calibers, rather than a cruise missile.