Despite ongoing challenges, the Russian military-industrial complex continues to make progress across numerous defence programmes. While many projects have been rescheduled or reprioritised, it appears that core future programmes have not been cancelled or postponed indefinitely – contrary to what many observers have suggested in recent years. Several of these programmes have recently resurfaced. Below is a status update on key projects in the land domain.
Main battle tanks
Probably one of the most significant developments in the field of main battle tanks is the introduction of the Arena-M active protection system (APS) into service. At present, the Arena-M APS has been integrated and tested on the T-72B3 and T-90M tanks. Additionally, in February 2025, during the IDEX 2025 event in Abu Dhabi, Alexander Tarantin, a representative of Uralvagonzavod (part of the Rostec holding), stated that the T-90MS tank has received multi-layered protection and can be equipped with the Arena-E (the export version of Arena-M) APS.[1]
The Arena-E APS has also been recently upgraded. “The export version of the main battle tank – the T-90MS – allows for the integration of an active protection system and an additional protection kit for operations in urban environments. We are offering this option to potential customers,” UVZ representatives told ESD. “As part of joint work with High-Precision Systems the export version of the Arena-E active protection system has been upgraded, taking into account the latest combat experience,” they added.
In 2024–25, the first batches of T-72B3M and T-90M tanks equipped with the Arena-M APS were delivered to the Russian Ground Forces. However, the system’s combat debut has not been confirmed as of yet.
According to the manufacturer’s statements, both variants of the Arena active protection system have undergone modernisation to adapt the system to counter a wide range of modern threats, including top-attack munitions. It appears that despite the urgent need to deliver an APS for main battle tanks, the Russian defence industry decided not to rush the pre-2022 version into serial production, opting instead to improve it. While this resulted in delayed deliveries, the upgraded variants of the Arena-M and Arena-E systems—now being delivered to the Russian Army and offered for export—may differ significantly from the pre-2022 version and possess improved capabilities.
Another programme that is moving forward is also aimed at increasing the survivability of Russia’s main battle tanks (MBTs). According to UVZ, while modern serially produced tanks are equipped with the Relikt explosive reactive armour (ERA) package, “specialists are already working on new types of reactive armour for tanks.”
Notably, this future ERA is not Monolit, which – due to its design, mass, and structural characteristics – is intended for the Armata platform. Earlier, in 2017, Dmitry Kupryunin, CEO of the Scientific Research Institute of Steel (NII Stali), stated that work on a new ERA for the T-90M and T-72B3 was ongoing.[4]
Medium-weight platforms
Developments in the segment of medium-weight platforms include three key lines of effort. The first involves the serial production and incremental upgrades of BMP-3 and BMD-4-family combat vehicles.
The second focuses on the upgrade and overhaul of older designs such as the BMP-1 and BMP-2. While these IFVs are no longer in serial production, Russia possesses a vast surplus fleet. Upgrading them to the BMP-1AM and BMP-2M standards and equipping them with standard additional protection kits enables these vehicles to remain relevant on the modern battlefield.
Finally, the development of future medium platforms has not been abandoned. During the MILEX-2025 event in May 2025, representatives of the High-Precision Systems holding stated that work on the Kurganets-25 IFV is ongoing and that the vehicle is nearing the completion of its preliminary testing phase.[5]
Later, in August 2023, High-Precision Systems reported that the ‘Manul’ is being developed as a tracked platform family, with the prospect of increased protection levels and payload capacity. As a result, the baseline vehicle will likely be equipped with a UTD-32T engine.[7] The Epokha unmanned turret has been designated as the main armament for the Manul IFV.[8] The three-year period allocated for R&D work on the Manul, as stated by Tyukov, ends in August 2025.
From a broader perspective, Russia’s medium-weight tracked platform segment currently includes:
- two major upgrade packages for legacy vehicles (the BMP-1 and BMP-2),
- two families of vehicles in serial production (the BMP-3 and BMD-4M), and
- two future platform family programmes (the Kurganets-25 and the Manul).
Turrets and RWSs
While many manned and unmanned turrets have been demonstrated by Russian industry in recent years, only a few have been procured and deployed. Notable successful examples include the 32V01 turret used on the Taifun-VDV combat vehicle and the Berezhok (B05S011) turret used on the modernised BMP-2M IFV.
New developments in the segment of unmanned turrets have recently emerged. First of all, in February 2025, the High-Precision Systems press service announced that the 9M134 ‘Bulat’ miniature guided missiles had successfully passed trials.[9] This milestone could be crucial for the approval of the Epokha unmanned turret for full-scale production, as it includes a Bulat launcher.
In the meantime, NPO Elektromashina (part of UVZ) has previously presented a range of remote weapon stations (RWSs) for land and naval platforms, as well as for the protection of static civilian and military facilities. These include the Okhotnik RWS and its naval variant, Narwal. The relatively small and light Okhotnik RWS is suitable for mounting on various tracked and wheeled vehicles, such as the BT-3F APC (currently undergoing state trials) and the Taifun-K MRAP, among others.
In response to ESD’s questions, UVZ representatives stated that both Okhotnik and Narwal have been modernised since their initial unveiling in 2018. Narwal, for example, has received a new sight with higher-resolution matrix, an improved control unit, and a modernised computing module. In addition, the module’s housing has been reinforced to offer better protection against battlefield threats. Furthermore, in response to emerging threats in the land and naval domains, the manufacturer is working on implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine vision technologies, as well as actively developing additional counter-UAV/USV capabilities.
Derivatsiya-PVO
According to Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, the development of the 2S38 Derivatsiya-PVO SPAAG was concluded in 2023, along with other systems such as the Malva and Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzers and the Drok self-propelled mortar.[11] This suggests that the AU-220M, a 57 mm combat module also used on the T-15 heavy IFV, had been completed and accepted previously.
In April 2024, Bekhan Ozdoev, a senior executive at Rostec, stated that the industry was considering the use of 30 mm and 57 mm munitions with programmable fuzes on the Derivatsiya-PVO and Taifun-VDV vehicles as part of efforts to enhance the ground forces’ counter-UAV capabilities. [12]
At present, there are no official statements regarding the serial production or combat deployment of the Derivatsiya-PVO SPAAG. However, Russia’s Ministry of Defence often remains silent about the introduction of certain critical weapons systems and their performance, or releases said information with a significant delay.
[1] Танк Т-90МС получил многоуровневую защиту – https://ria.ru/20250220/tank-2000445272.html
[2] “Уралвагонзавод” в рамках модернизации танка Т-72 продвигает на рынок комплекс “Арена” https://tass.ru/ural-news/945011
[3] (КАЗ) “Арена-М” в составе танка Т-72 успешно прошел испытания с применением российских ПТРК и зарубежных, трофейных боеприпасов – https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/17451003
[4] Интервью с генеральным директором АО “НИИ стали” Дмитрием Купрюниным https://vpk.name/news/199682_intervyu_s_generalnym_direktorom_ao_nii_stali_dmitriem_kupryuninym.html
[5] Ростех: характеристики БМП “Курганец-25” подтверждаются на испытаниях – https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/24013663
[6] БМП “Манул” разработают с учетом эксплуатации бронетехники на Украине – https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/15454235
[7] Новая российская БМП “Манул” получит более мощный двигатель – https://ria.ru/20230821/bmp-1891182321.html
[8] БМП “Манул” может получить модуль “Эпоха” с 57-миллиметровой пушкой – https://ria.ru/20230808/manul-1888759325.html
[9] Испытания легкой ракеты 9М134, также известной как «Булат», производства холдинга «Высокоточные комплексы» завершены с положительными результатами. – https://t.me/hpweapons/1481
[10] “Высокоточные комплексы” разрабатывают новую гусеничную платформу – https://ria.ru/20230818/oruzhie-1890732039.html
[11] Сергей Чемезов: технологическое превосходство Запада в военной сфере – миф – https://ria.ru/20231227/chemezov-1918281845.html
[12] Оздоев – новые боеприпасы учитывают защиту трофейной бронетехники- https://tass.ru/interviews/20453549