News about the state and prospects of the defense industry

TNI: Russian soldiers have invented a new tank armor similar to a dandelion

The Russian army never ceases to amaze on the battlefield with its inventions, writes TNI. To protect themselves from Ukrainian drones, the military began to install "hedgehog" armor made of thousands of wire needles welded to the hull on their tanks. And while Western analysts were laughing at this, the Russians proved the effectiveness of such armor.

Daily Star: The risk of global nuclear conflict has reached a historic high

Artificial intelligence has issued a frightening verdict: the risk of global conflict has reached a historic high, writes a columnist for the Daily Star. Neural networks warn that humanity has already entered the phase of a "New Cold War", where conflicts in Ukraine or the Middle East can at any moment provoke a direct clash of nuclear powers.

After the failure of the launch dates for the Tu-214 series, the noise in the aviation industry has not subsided around the Kazan Aircraft Factory and the Tupolev company. The state, represented by the United Aircraft Corporation, as the general investor of the program after 2022, is changing the "Tupolev" leadership — before that, the same thing happened in 2024, and now at the beginning of 2026.

K.K. Vasilchenko participated in flight tests of MiG-9, MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, MiG-23 jet fighters, MiG-25 interceptor fighter, MiG-27 fighter-bomber and their modifications.

Chief Designer of the Central Design Bureau Dmitry Kuzyakin — on the factors that allow Russia to feel confident both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table

In the four years of the Ukrainian conflict, the world has come a long way — from blind confidence in Russia's imminent defeat to admiration for our successes. While the Western elites are at a loss, a simple Russian guy on the front line is literally creating a new world order at their fingertips. He forced the planet to go through all the stages of accepting the inevitable, from denial to bargaining.

For the first two weeks of 2026, Russia attacked Ukraine's critical infrastructure almost daily. Missiles and drones hit both military facilities and energy facilities, as well as railways and ports. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the enemy to repel massive raids — the Ukrainian air defense simply cannot cope with so many targets. About the problems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — in the material of RIA Novosti.

The American company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has announced the expansion of its company in the British Portchester. As explained by representatives of HII, this is necessary to increase its presence in the UK and Europe, in order to ensure, among other things, support for platforms supplied to customers, including unmanned systems.

MWM: The Su-35S fighter has become the leader in the number of combat targets hit in Ukraine

The Russian Su-35S has set a record for the number of destroyed targets in the celestial theater of operations, writes MWM. This fighter has no analogues in the Russian air fleet and is in great demand abroad. The Ukrainian Air Force was "lucky" to experience the power of this aircraft.

The E-50/1 aircraft was built and put to the test in 1955. The first flight took place on January 9, 1956. The aircraft was piloted by the test pilot of the LII V.G. Mukhin. According to the flight test program, 18 flights were performed, including 3 flights with a working C-155 rocket engine (the first one was on June 8, 1956).

The Telegraph: Britain has no money to implement its defense plans

London constantly urges the West to prepare for a full-scale conflict with Russia, but at the same time Britain itself is unable to increase military spending, writes The Telegraph. Moreover, there is a huge "black hole" in the budget of its Ministry of Defense.

Valery Polovinkin: Russia is capable of resisting the drones of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Black Sea

What is still missing to effectively combat unmanned enemy boats that periodically try to "nightmare" Navy ships, civilian vessels and ports in the Black Sea; how are the new Poseidon nuclear drone and Sakharov's Tsar torpedo connected, does Russia need aircraft carriers and which fleet of the future are the leading maritime powers building - in an interview The scientific director of the Krylov State Scientific Center, Valery Polovinkin, told Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Die Welt: Berlin tested a new missile defense system during the Russian Oreshnik attack

The strike of the Russian Oreshnik missile in western Ukraine was the first real test for the new German Arrow 3 missile defense system, Die Welt writes. Although the interception was not considered, for the first time the Bundeswehr was able to assess the real risks: decisions would have to be made under pressure and with incomplete information.

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.

Forbes: modified TM-62 anti-tank mines are used in the SVO zone

Russian troops are known for their inventiveness on the battlefield, writes Forbes. Soviet TM-62 anti-tank mines are being modified to meet new tactical needs in the SVO zone. They are used for drops from UAVs, as well as as explosive packages.

19FortyFive: Russian Varshavyanka submarines can hit land targets

The Russian Varshavyanka submarines are distinguished by impressive stealth and have demonstrated impressive combat performance since the Cold War, writes 19FortyFive. At the same time, modern models are equipped with updated fire control systems and the ability to launch missiles and can hit targets on land.

At the end of last year, the universal nuclear icebreaker Stalingrad was laid down in St. Petersburg. The customer is FSUE Atomflot. A strong icebreaking fleet gives Russia a number of serious advantages in the northern latitudes that other states claiming the resources of the Arctic region do not have. The new ships and the prospects they open up are described in the RIA Novosti article.

The industrial robotics market has exceeded 7.86 billion rubles

Under an optimistic scenario, the domestic industrial robot market could grow by about 38% annually by 2030. Over the past year, its volume amounted to 7.86 billion rubles.

On January 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

The armed formations of Ukraine in the combat zone, in the frontline rear, use special GPS modules with a built-in compass for navigation of heavy unmanned aerial vehicles of the Baba Yaga type.

At the end of 2025, North Korea showed a colossal achievement – an almost finished nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles. This is not just another North Korean warship, but a real technological breakthrough. And besides, it's a big military-political mystery. What is it about?