Russia has publicly unveiled the S-71K Kovyor, a new air-launched stand-off weapon designed for its Su-57E fifth-generation fighter, during the El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt. The weapon was displayed alongside the S-71M Monokhrom as Russia showcased a new generation of air-launched systems that combine features of cruise missiles and low-cost attack drones.Russia is presenting the systems as a new class of relatively inexpensive stand-off weapons, aimed at giving its aircraft the ability to strike targets from a distance without relying solely on larger and more expensive cruise missiles.The aircraft was displayed with several air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons at El Alamein, while Russia’s state-owned Rostec said the Su-57E would be shown with weapons that had not previously been demonstrated either in Russia or abroad.The S-71 family also reflects a shift in Russia’s approach to stand-off warfare. The new weapons are positioned between sophisticated, high-cost missiles and cheaper attack drones, potentially allowing Russian aircraft to employ larger numbers of expendable weapons against targets protected by air-defence systems.The concept has gained importance from Russia’s experience in the Ukraine war, where large-scale use of drones and relatively inexpensive precision weapons has become a major feature of air operations.Russia’s unveiling of the S-71K comes as Moscow is intensifying its push to sell the Su-57E to India, with the fighter now explicitly featuring in high-level India-Russia discussions.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said this week that the sale of Su-57 aircraft to India is on the agenda of President Vladimir Putin’s talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also confirmed that Moscow and New Delhi are discussing India’s request for access to Su-57 production technology.Moscow has offered joint production of the Su-57 in India, with Russian officials previously saying technical discussions were underway on the possibility of manufacturing the fifth-generation fighter locally.S-71K KovyorS-71K Kovyor is powered by an R500 turbojet and reportedly has a range of around 300 km. The missile carries a 250-kg OFAB-250-270 fragmentation warhead and uses inertial navigation to strike pre-programmed targets. Its flattened, angular airframe is designed to reduce radar visibility.A Russian arms-export representative told Reuters that the S-71K had already been used in combat before its first public display, while Ukrainian intelligence has said it was first deployed in late 2025.Its key significance is the combination of stand-off range, lower cost and reduced observability, allowing the Su-57 to attack defended targets from greater distances while potentially using the weapon in larger numbers.
