Russia to test attack drone this year: report

MOSCOW, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia will start testing its new heavy-attack drone Okhotnik (Hunter) this year, TASS news agency reported Sunday, citing a defense industry source.

A prototype of the long-haul unmanned aerial vehicle has been created and the test flights will begin this year, the source said, adding that the work is being carried out at a plant of Sukhoi Aircraft Company.

In 2011, the Russian Defense Ministry and Sukhoi signed a contract to develop the drone, the specifics of which have yet to be officially released.

The drone weighs 20 tons, has a jet engine, and is capable of flying at a speed of up to 1,000 km per hour.