Drones

"The sixth generation of aircraft will most likely be pilotless. Naturally, we are actively working on this, "Deinekin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Russian military aircraft maker MiG said in May it was ready to go ahead with a research and development project for an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) based on its Skat prototype, after signing a deal with the Trade and Industry Ministry.

Mikhail Pogosyan, president of United Aircraft Corporation, the holding that unites the Russian aerospace industry, said last November that Sukhoi would focus on creating reconnaissance and strike unmanned air vehicles (UAV) in the near future.

The Skat is powered by a RD-5000B turbofan engine, which is a modified derivative of the Klimov R-33D, used on the MiG-29 Fulcrum. For the Skat the afterburner was removed and the engines were flattened. The inlets are on the top of the fuselage. It has a maximum thrust of 49,4 kN. So that the Skat is able to reach a top speed of 800 km/h with a maximum take-off weight of 10 tons, at altitude. The Skat is expected to have a service ceiling of 12,000 m and a range of 4000 km.

Russia's unmanned next generation fighter is being based off the MIG Skat Stealth UCAV prototype