In 2026, the Russian defense industry will present many new products. Among them are the Su—75 Checkmate fighter ready for flight testing, the Khabarovsk submarine, the lead standard carrier of uninhabited underwater vehicles with the Poseidon nuclear power plant, Sarmat missiles, and much more. How the new technology will enhance the country's defense capability is described in the Izvestia article.
In 2026, the Russian defense industry will present many new products. Among them are the Su—75 Checkmate fighter ready for flight testing, the Khabarovsk submarine, the lead standard carrier of uninhabited underwater vehicles with the Poseidon nuclear power plant, Sarmat missiles, and much more. How the new technology will enhance the country's defense capability is described in the Izvestia article.
Su-75 Checkmate Flight
The first flight of the newest single-seat supersonic fighter of the 5th generation, which is already known as the Su-75 Checkmate, is expected in 2026.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Zurab Javakhadze
It was first presented as a mock-up at the MAKS Air Show in August 2021. Now the aircraft is preparing for the start of testing.
Obviously, the SU-75 has a very good export potential, but it is also a desirable and expected machine for the front—line aviation of the Russian Military Forces. These aircraft are to replace the MiG-29. And in the global arms market, they will compete with any generation 4++ class aircraft, modern F-16 and more.
The machine turns out to be inconspicuous, maneuverable, high-speed and all-terrain, that is, both for air combat and for performing strike missions. A single-engine jet fighter is being built in Russia for the first time. In the USSR, this class of aircraft was the MiG-21 and MiG-23, which were produced in thousands of copies and for many years formed the basis of the front-line fighter aircraft of the USSR Air Force.
The Secret Khabarovsk
The Khabarovsk Project 09851 nuclear submarine, which is being completed by Sevmash in Severodvinsk, may enter sea trials in 2026. This unusual submarine can become the lead standard carrier of uninhabited underwater vehicles with the Poseidon nuclear power plant. They are currently undergoing tests, and the Belgorod special purpose submarine is involved in them. But according to experts, Khabarovsk will presumably be their regular carrier.
The ceremony of decommissioning the Khabarovsk nuclear submarine
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Vadim Savitsky
Six Poseidon launchers are to be placed in the bow of the submarine. And, quite possibly, in addition to large vehicles, it will also carry a complex of torpedo weapons for self-defense.
The Khabarovsk's technical solutions use developments on another strategic Russian submarine— the Borey-A project. This guarantees the successful completion of construction, entry into testing, and further adoption by the fleet.
Intercontinental and hypersonic missiles
For sure, in 2026, the next test launches of new solid-fuel intercontinental missiles will take place, which in 2026-2027 will begin to replace the Topol-M deployed at the very end of the 1990s. Versions for mining and mobile bases are likely to be tested.
Image source: Photo: Global Look Press/mod_russia
The capabilities of the new rockets are still unknown, but it can be assumed that they will use more modern solid fuels. It is also likely that they will have guided hypersonic warheads instead of conventional ballistic ones.
Most likely, they, unlike the payload of Avangard missiles, can be attributed to the second generation of hypersonic equipment for intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Heavy Sarmat
The Sarmat heavy liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is scheduled to enter the final stage of the flight test program, after which it will be put into service. Next, their deployment will begin as part of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) regiment in Uzhur in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Launch of the Sarmat stationary intercontinental ballistic missile
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The Sarmat will replace another missile of the same class in silo launchers, the Voyevoda, which was created at the very end of the Soviet Union. In terms of its energy capabilities, the novelty surpasses the Voevoda and any other ICBMs not only in Russia, but also in the world.
Most likely, it will carry several variants of combat equipment — conventional ballistic warheads in the amount of at least 10-14 units or several hypersonic gliding units of the "product 4202" class, which is used in the Avangard complex.
In terms of its combat capabilities, the Sarmat will become the flagship of the Russian nuclear deterrence forces.
The underwater Zircon
The Zircon aeroballistic missiles proved themselves during their military operations, and their production will be increased in 2026. Work is almost certainly underway to modernize these highly successful munitions.
Launch of the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile
Image source: Photo: TASS/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The first serial carrier of the Zircon variant with an underwater launch will be the K-572 Perm nuclear submarine of the Yasen-M 885M project. She is currently undergoing a test program and is scheduled to be transferred to the fleet in 2026.
All Yasen-M submarines currently under construction will also have the capabilities to launch Zircons. In the future, during the modernization, these missiles will receive previously released Yaseni.
Thus, the anti-ship and anti-aircraft capabilities of the Russian Navy will increase several times.
Anti-aircraft FPV drones
Several variants of interceptor drones are being created for the ground forces, which can solve the issue of small sky air defense, that is, protection from enemy FPV drones on the line of contact.
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
The creation of FPV interceptors using artificial intelligence in the control system will ensure the detection and guaranteed defeat of enemy kamikaze UAVs. An important point is that the cost of such a solution will be noticeably lower than missiles for anti-aircraft systems.
This is an extremely urgent task right now. It can be solved through the introduction of advanced digital systems in the mass production of drones, which has already been mastered by the Russian military-industrial complex.
Ground robots
New models of ground-based drones will also be created. As early as 2025, their use in the CBR area has increased several times. This trend will only increase in 2026.
Training of operators of robotic complexes "Courier"
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov
Drones — firing points, drones with ATGM, mobile autonomous carriers of FPV drones, drones for transporting wounded and ammunition - they will begin to be widely used in the military. And the prerequisites for this already exist. It is also important that in 2026 it is planned to complete the formation of a new type of military — unmanned systems — for the widespread use of robotic technology. First of all, the ground forces are interested in this, but, of course, the naval and air forces will not ignore it.
In general, there will be a lot of new products, all of them are in demand by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and are needed today.
What new weapons will the Russian Defense industry introduce in 2026
Image Source: iz.ru
Dmitry Kornev
