Russia unveils next-gen UAVs, Su-75 fighter as military programmes advance PHOTO

Russian developers of the fibre-optic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) “Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky” (KVN) are working on a loitering munition with a range exceeding 50 kilometres, which can be deployed alongside KVN, the organisation’s chief designer said.

“The employment scenario is similar to that already proven on the front with the Lancet, but within our own ecosystem,” he said, according to Russian media.

In addition, several other projects are underway, including a strike drone powered by a jet engine capable of speeds above 500 kilometres per hour. Parallel efforts are focused on modernising the latest reconnaissance UAV, “Knyaz Veshchy Oleg”, which entered serial production in 2026.

Tests have demonstrated prototypes capable of remaining airborne for up to 3.5 hours, with ongoing work aimed at further extending flight endurance.

Meanwhile, the first flight of Russia’s single-engine fifth-generation fighter, the Su-75 Checkmate, is expected in 2026, according to Izvestia. The publication notes that the aircraft has strong export potential and is highly desired by the Russian Aerospace Forces. Observer Dmitry Kornev describes the jet as “stealthy, manoeuvrable, high-speed and versatile, suitable both for air combat and strike missions.”

In the naval sector, 2026 may see the start of sea trials for the Khabarovsk nuclear submarine, Project 09851, which will serve as a platform for the unmanned underwater vehicles “Poseidon” with nuclear propulsion. 

Testing of the Topol-M missile replacement and the Sarmat system is expected to conclude, while the K-572 Perm submarine, Project 885M Yasen-M, is slated for delivery to the Russian Navy as the first serial vessel capable of launching hypersonic Zircon missiles from underwater.

By Aghakazim Guliyev