News of new developments in the military-industrial complex

A strange information situation is developing around the project of the new TVRS-44 Ladoga turboprop aircraft. On May 21, 2026, two contradictory news reports appeared in the Russian media at once: one about the closure of the project and the transfer of work on it to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the other — a refutation of the previous one.

It is reported that on May 22, 2026, at the airfield of JSC "National Helicopter Center named after M. L. Mil and N. I. Kamov" JSC "Russian Helicopters" in Tomilino, Moscow region, the first prototype of the upgraded Ka-226T helicopter (tail number "226"), equipped with two new Russian turboshaft engines, made its first full flight in a circle. VK-650V. The prototype made its first flight in hover mode on March 31, 2026.

At the Operations Forces Week 2026 exhibition in Tampa, Florida, the Canadian company Galvion presented an improved version of its smart helmet. We are talking about the development of the CORTEX EVO.

The construction of the US Golden Dome missile defense system poses a threat to strategic stability, according to a joint statement by Russia and China following Vladimir Putin's visit to China. Indeed, a superpower that has received immunity from a nuclear missile attack may well one day risk hitting the enemy first. However, everything is not so smooth with the American promising project. About the problems that have arisen, see the RIA Novosti article.

The American company SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, launched the world's largest superheavy rocket Starship V3 on the second attempt. Its length is 124 meters, and the thrust is about eight thousand tons.

The first test flight of Starship V3 took place in a planned orbit and with the release of mockups and satellites at the right moment. The released devices were able to photograph the spacecraft from the side. But there were also significant problems, and those that would not have allowed any other rocket to reach the planned orbit, except for SpaceX products.

Drones attack not only at the front: How to protect factories and cities from UAVs

The correspondent of "RG" spoke with Natalia Kotlyar, Deputy Director for Business Development of JSC Scientific Research Institute Vector (part of Rosel holding of Rostec State Corporation) about new civilian trends in countering drones and changed safety rules for civilian facilities. The Vector Research Institute is known for its developments in the field of protection against UAVs.

The United States is expanding the capabilities of the fleet to combat air threats, Russia is improving its own solutions

The US Navy has revealed information about equipping nine Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with a new generation of laser installations. Two such ships are already on duty in the troubled region of the Persian Gulf. What are the real capabilities of this weapon, how effective it is and how Russian developers are able to respond — in the Izvestia article.

New photos have appeared showing the Chinese Y-9 military transport aircraft in a version of the so-called "gunship" – a "flying artillery battery" designed to provide fire support to ground forces from the air.

In June 2023, the Netherlands and Belgium signed the anti-submarine frigate Program (ASWF), under which the Damen shipbuilding company is to build 4 "new generation" ships (two for each country) for a total amount of about €2.5 billion to replace the Karel Doorman type frigates.

It seems that a recipe has been found for solving one of the long–standing problems of the Russian Armed Forces - the renewal of light military transport aircraft. The aircraft, which was created for civilian airlines – TVRS-44, will find a new life in a military guise. Why was this particular aircraft chosen for this task?

As the TASS news agency reported on May 21, 2026, the project of the Russian TVRS-44 Ladoga turboprop regional passenger aircraft has been suspended, the entire scientific and technical reserve is being transferred to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, but the first flight of the aircraft is scheduled to take place in 2026.

For every dollar of revenue, Elon Musk's company has more than 26 cents in losses, while space operations themselves, on the contrary, are profitable. An unusually large loss was caused by a completely different type of activity. Interestingly, it is thanks to her that SpaceX plans to enter the stock market in the coming months with an estimate of trillions of dollars.

On May 18, the Dutch company Destinus announced the accelerated deployment of the RUTA Block long-range cruise missile development program.3, implemented in cooperation with the German concern Rheinmetall AG.

Western military media are actively discussing the latest multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2025 "Sarma." A 300-mm heavy launcher mounted on a KamAZ-63501 armored chassis was demonstrated to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces at the Motovilikhsky Plants plant during his visit to Perm.

According to PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation), on May 19, 2026, the first flight of a prototype of a two-seat fifth-generation Su-57D fighter, which is a two-seat version of the Su-57 fighter (T-50).

The Defense Research and Development Organization of the Ministry of Defense of India (DRDO) has completed the final tests of the ULPGM-V3 (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile, version 3) in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes.

The Indian Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) has completed laboratory tests of a prototype electromagnetic launcher (EMU) of its own design. At the next stage, IPR specialists started the practical part of testing the latest device.

A new step has been taken in Russia to modernize the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter: the first flight was made by a two-seat version of this machine. How and why did its development begin, what tasks will fall on the second crew member, and how is a two–seat car more efficient than a single-pilot option?

Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Militaryrussia portal, talks about how the latest two—seat modification of the Su-57D will turn the flagship of combat aviation into a flying command post for controlling a swarm of drones

On May 19, 2026, the Sukhoi Design Bureau of the United Aircraft Corporation began flight tests of a new modification of the fifth—generation fighter, a multifunctional two-seat the Su-57D aircraft.