Russia unveils pilotless ‘stealth’ bomber*

Friday, August 24, 2007

MOSCOW: Russia unveiled on Thursday the mock-up of a pilotless bomber
plane that its constructors say will be even better than the famous US
stealth fighter at evading enemy radars and anti-aircraft fire.

NTV television showed a full-sized model of the bat-like plane known as
Skat, which means “stingray,” at an air show just outside Moscow the
first public glimpse of the project run by Russia’s MiG Corporation.

The aircraft has a flattened, swept-back profile reminiscent of the US
air force’s stealth aircraft, with a bubble-like cockpit area, although
the plane will not have a pilot, NTV reported.

According to the report, the Skat’s constructors claim the stealth
technology will make it even less vulnerable than the US version to
radar detection.

“Many firms are trying to work in this area, but few so far have
achieved results. Today we have begun real work on building an assault
craft,” the director of MiG’s Mikoyan design bureau, Vladimir Barkovsky,
said on NTV television.

RIA Novosti news agency quoted Barkovsky saying that the Skat will be
able to attack land and sea targets, particularly enemy anti-aircraft
sites, even if coming under heavy fire.

It will weigh 10 tonnes, be able to carry up to two tonnes of ordnance
and have a range of 4,000 kilometres, RIA Novosti reported.