News about the state and prospects of the defense industry

One of the most advanced developments of the Russian defense industry is the KC-172 air-to-air missile, which differs significantly from its analogues, including American ones, in range. According to the Western press, it is successfully undergoing integration with the MiG-31 combat aircraft.

BI: The era of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone has passed

The era of the American MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and attack drones is coming to an end. These UAVs are vulnerable even to outdated air defense systems, writes Business Insider. Why the reign of the "Reapers" has come to an end, which drones will replace them and what does Russia's special military operation in Ukraine have to do with it - in the material of the military observer Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenka.

Photos have been published online showing the transformation of artillery shells by Chinese specialists into precision bombs designed for the needs of PLA combat aircraft.

In the context of the massive use of UAVs in combat, the French Navy decided to equip ships with a 40-mm RapidFire artillery system, allegedly capable of effectively combating this threat.

Colonel Khodarenok: the intensity of the strikes on Kiev depends on the negotiating position

Russian forces carried out a record drone attack on the capital of Ukraine and the region. At least 273 Geranium-type drones were involved. Whether Kiev's information about repelling the attack should be trusted and why Russia used the UAVs is in the material of the military observer Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenka.

Almaz-Antey Concern, the only supplier of air navigation equipment for the State Corporation for Air Traffic Management, received a government order for 650 million rubles. to create infrastructure in eight Russian regions to connect them to a unified system for monitoring airspace and controlling drones.

Military specialists are restoring combat vehicles directly at the front line

In a locality, the presence of a repair unit does not give anything away. The place of deployment looks like an agricultural enterprise that is trying to get its work done after the fighting — the skeletons of old equipment, fragments of bricks and slate are on display on the territory.

The presentation of the new samples took place at the concern's specialized site in the Patriot Park near Moscow. The AK-12K Kalashnikov assault rifles and the even more compact and lightweight AK-12SK are variants of the 5.45 mm combined arms AK—12, but with a shortened barrel. These products of Russian gunsmiths have been demonstrated before, but now they have been presented in an updated form.

Le Parisien: The Ukrainian Armed Forces returned the S-200 air defense system to service, but in a new capacity

The Ukrainian army has returned to service the Soviet S-200 anti-aircraft missile systems, developed more than half a century ago, writes Le Parisien. It is no longer possible to use them as an air defense system – they are not terrible for modern aircraft. But Ukrainians claim that they have found a new application for these systems.

The Spanish company EM&E Group (Escribano) presented the new Ferox ("Furious") 6x6 armored vehicle at the FEINDEF 2025 defense exhibition. As expected, this product will go into serial production – the developer plans to produce up to 8 machines per month or about 100 copies per year.

As reported by the resource ATO.ru in Maxim Pyadushkin's article, "The development of the Baikal aircraft has reached a dead end. Instead, it is proposed to engage in the remotorization of An-2 aircraft, the development of a 9-seat passenger aircraft for local airlines LMS-901 Baikal has been discontinued, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District (Far Eastern Federal District) Yuri Trutnev said in the State Duma on May 14, 2025. This machine has been developed since 2019 by the private company Baikal Engineering, a subsidiary of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA), as a replacement for the still-in-service Soviet-era An-2 biplanes.

On May 16, 2025, JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ, part of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation - USC) in St. Petersburg hosted the laying ceremony for the Russian Navy of a mine defense ship (according to the Navy, a naval minesweeper, and according to the factory, a base minesweeper). "Sergey Preminin" of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") with the factory number 534. This is the fourteenth ship in the Project 12700 series.

Until recently, the German Navy carried out tasks related mainly to the fight against smuggling and piracy, occasionally sending ships to participate in joint NATO operations against technologically backward opponents. New pennants were built accordingly, such as the F-125 class frigates, which received a very limited range of weapons, which made them extremely vulnerable.

Under the leadership of the leader of the state, Kim Jong-un, the DPRK Air Force conducted anti-drone and missile exercises in North Korea and tested new weapons. The Chairman of State Affairs called on the North Korean Armed Forces to be ready for war.

The report by the commander of US forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, claims that this year Russia is capable of producing 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles and 200 Iskander armored personnel carriers, etc.

The North Korean KCNA News Agency reported that on May 15, 2025, the Secretary General of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK, respected Comrade Kim Jong-un, visited the aviation regiment of the 1st Guards Aviation Division of the Korean People's Army.

The Baltic Fleet celebrates its 322nd anniversary on Sunday, May 18. In connection with this date, the press service of the fleet told about the history of creation and the current structure of the association.

Work on a domestic drone fighter based on a light-engine aircraft is continuing, at the moment, an upgraded Yak-52 sports and training aircraft is being offered in this capacity. According to the channel, one of the Russian aviation design bureaus has developed a new modification of the aircraft based on the experience of creating the Yak-52B light attack aircraft, which they tried to create during the Afghan war.

Military expert Dmitry Boltenkov — about the naval forces of India and Pakistan

The ceasefire period between India and Pakistan ends on May 18. It is difficult to say whether the clashes will resume after this. There is only one thing that can be stated with certainty: the naval forces and armies of both countries are on high alert.

L'antidiplomatico: the backlog in the field of armaments demonstrates the decline of Europe

Europe no longer plays an important role in the military industry, writes L'antidiplomatico. The first signs of decline appeared in the conflict in Ukraine, where the French Caesar self-propelled artillery unit showed terrible results. And even rearmament will not help in this situation.