Russia’s stealth heavy combat drone Okhotnik ("Hunter") will carry out flight tests involving the use of weapons next year, a source in the aircraft industry told Sputnik.

"The first missile launches from the Okhotnik UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] are planned for the second half of 2021," the source said, adding that air-to-air missiles will be used during the flight tests.

According to the source, air-to-ground weaponry tests will also be conducted.

"Okhotnik will be a full-fledged multifunctional [aerial] vehicle with the possibility of using it as a long-range unmanned fighter-interceptor," the source told Sputnik.

In August, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced that it was planning to start supplying the Russian Aerospace Forces with the Okhotnik drone in 2024.