One of only three Russian loyal wingman stealth drones shot down over Ukraine

A Russian loyal wingman stealth drone has been shot down during a combat mission over Ukraine in an apparent friendly fire incident.

It is believed Russia only has two Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-Bs left following the incident, which is being viewed as a blow to Vladimir Putin's war machine.

Any surviving equipment left on the ground will likely be a gift for reverse engineering teams keen to unlock any secret technology.

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It comes as air forces across the world continue to develop the loyal wingman technology which focuses on a drone that can operate with minimal direction from an accompanying pilot, scouting ahead to identify targets, jamming signals with electronic warfare capabilities and launching airstrikes to destroy targets.

In footage released by Russia, the sixth-generation Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B has been seen flying alongside Su-57 fighter jets.

For many militaries, a functional, operational weapon of this kind is a Holy Grail of future air power.

Testing of Western versions of the loyal wingman concept is already well advanced.

The Royal Australian Air Force has the Ghost Bat, which is to begin "crewed and uncrewed teaming" next year.

The US has the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Programme to test, develop and implement new autonomous and manned-unmanned aircraft teaming concepts.

It includes the Fury – a concept from Anduril Industries, a company dedicated to ramping up production of advanced drones and missiles, powered by artificial intelligence, in numbers large enough to face down China and Russia. 

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is working on the XQ-67A, which can operate alongside sixth-generation fighter jets under the Next-Generation Air Dominance programmes of the US air force and navy.

In the UK, the Royal Air Force Autonomous Collaborative Platform Strategy is also moving towards a loyal wingman drone, that it is planning to become a reality within six years.

Its aim is for loyal wingman drones to help "deliver battle-winning military capability across multiple domains as part of a national or coalition force".