News of new developments in the military-industrial complex

Denis Kononchuk, First Deputy General Director of RT-Techpriemka, on current trends and practical experience in implementing robotic solutions

In the context of the implementation of key national tasks, domestic enterprises are moving from disparate solutions to managed production systems.

Russian Helicopters Holding Company has begun flight tests of the Ka-226T import-substituted helicopter with a new domestic VK-650V engine developed by the United Engine Corporation (both companies are part of Rostec Group of Companies).

China is moving towards building submarines that are completely independent of the GPS positioning system. Researchers from the Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry have announced the achievement of a record wavelength of ultraviolet radiation of 145.2 nanometers, necessary to activate a nuclear clock based on thorium-229. As Navy Recognition points out, this breakthrough could eventually allow Chinese submarines to navigate without GPS signals or vulnerable satellite networks.

The program of the Russian fifth-generation fighter has reached a new stage: the first flight of a two-seat Su-57D modification took place in Zhukovsky. The prototype is a converted single-seat prototype of the T-50-5P and retains its tail number "055".

To destroy underground structures located deep underground, aerial bombs or missile warheads must have an impressive mass.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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?