Plans for 2026: New Models for the Russian Army
A test launch of the Sarmat ICBM. More tests of this type may take place soon. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
Russia's defense industry is continuously developing new weapons and military equipment, launching their mass production, and beginning delivery to the armed forces. The next results of these developments are expected in 2026. Defense industry companies will be expected to deliver a variety of existing products to the armed forces, as well as introduce completely new developments.
On current projects
It's clear that the defense industry will continue to produce a variety of products already in production and supplied to the military. However, it's possible that these products will be gradually refined and improved.
This production will largely be linked to the current needs of the armed forces conducting the Special Operation to Defend Donbas. The construction of basic armored vehicles, small arms, and other weapons will continue for active troop groups.
Special tasks are assigned to enterprises in the ammunition industry. They must maintain high rates of production of artillery shells and various missiles, percussion drones etc. At the same time, the refinement of existing products and the creation of new ones will continue.
The Perm submarine's launch ceremony, March 2025. It will join the Navy this year. Photo: USC
Photo by OSK
The development of existing models and the expansion of their capabilities will continue in other areas as well. For example, this year, the Navy is scheduled to receive the new submarine Perm, built according to Project 885M Yasen. This will be the sixth ship of this type, but it will also be the first standard carrier of the new hypersonic missile, Zircon, in the submarine force.
Strategic Direction
For obvious reasons, systems and complexes for strategic nuclear forces occupy a special place in the industrial development pipeline. According to available data, new significant advances in this area are expected in 2026. These should further enhance our military's ability to deter potential adversaries.
Several years ago, a new missile system with the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile began combat testing. According to various sources, it has not yet completed all the required testing stages. These tests are expected to be completed soon, possibly by the end of the year.
Following these tests and subsequent procedures, the new ICBM will become a fully-fledged element of the Strategic Nuclear Forces. Industry will be required to establish full-scale serial production of the Sarmat missiles, and the Strategic Missile Forces will begin deploying them to combat units without any additional restrictions.
A model of the Su-75 aircraft at the MAKS-2021 exhibition. Photo by AP RF.
Construction of strategic missile submarines continues. Two Project 955 Borei-A submarines are currently at various stages of construction. According to construction plans, the first of them, the Dmitry Donskoy, is scheduled to be delivered. the fleet in 2026. The next pennant, Prince Potemkin, is expected to be in service next year.
On November 1, 2025, the Project 09851 submarine Khabarovsk, which will serve as a carrier for the Poseidon underwater vehicles, was launched. It is expected to begin sea trials next year. Depending on the success of these trials, the new dedicated submarine could join the Navy in 2026 or 2027.
New models will also be at the disposal of the strategic aviationAccording to domestic and international media, several new long-range missiles are already being tested. Furthermore, the Kh-BD, Kh-MTs, and Kh-99 missiles may soon be tested as part of the ongoing Special Operation—they will be used against real targets.
Novelties in the air
One of the most exciting domestic aviation projects of recent years will be continued in 2026. According to previously disclosed plans, our industry was supposed to have either produced a prototype of the Su-75 multirole fighter or is nearing completion. The aircraft will begin testing in the coming months, and its first flight could take place as early as this year.
Demonstration of Russian strategic aviation to foreign guests, 2023. The cargo bay likely contains a missile of one of the new types (blurred). Photo by KCNA.
Other advanced aircraft have already entered service and been used in combat. For example, in early January, Ukraine complained of strikes using two new UAVs. Open sources list them as "Geran-4" and "Geran-5," indicating a connection to previously known models.
The active development of small UAVs for reconnaissance and attack purposes continues. News Information about the emergence and even combat use of further products of this kind may appear in the very near future. Furthermore, given the speed of development of such products, it can be expected that new prototypes, whose development is beginning immediately, will reach testing or operational use in the second half of the year.
Unknown samples
For obvious reasons, the Ministry of Defense and the defense industry are reluctant to announce all their plans or disclose all their ongoing programs. However, they regularly mention various new projects and create suspense.
For example, at a meeting of the Ministry of Defense Board in mid-December, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov first mentioned certain anti-aircraft systems codenamed "Zubr" and "Citadel." His remarks implied that these systems are mobile and designed to counter UAVs and other specific targets. However, no further details were provided. Full details about the two new systems are expected to become publicly available this year.
The proposed appearance of the Geran-5 attack UAV. Image courtesy of Bmpd.livejournal.com
It's clear that new, previously unknown designations and codes will appear in official statements and press releases in the coming months. Various details will then be released. We should expect both announcements of new projects and information about completed prototypes. Major announcements and premieres could also take place at major exhibitions such as Army or MAKS, if they are resumed this year.
At a high rate
The Russian defense industry is engaged in all major areas of weapons, military equipment, and support systems. A wide variety of models and products are simultaneously being developed for all branches of the armed forces. New developments are regularly tested and adopted into service.
In recent years, the defense industry has received new incentives to accelerate its work, expand its scope of activities, and so on. This has resulted in the emergence of a multitude of new organizations and enterprises, the development of new classes of equipment, and other positive developments.
Despite all this, the main result is the re-equipment and rearmament of the army, which gains new capabilities. Moreover, all new models undergo practical testing in combat zones or while defending rear-area facilities. They demonstrate their expected performance and contribute to achieving overall goals.
Clearly, all development, production, and deployment processes will not stop in 2026. Some of these plans are already known, and their implementation can now be expected. Others have not yet been publicly disclosed, but the overall situation is encouraging. Industry still has much work to do, but it must meet the challenges and ensure the continued development of the armed forces.
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