Archive · 13 Sep 2026
How Ukraine Is Shaping Russia’s Next Generation Weapons
The war in Ukraine has caused Russia major losses in people and military equipment.
But it has also taught Russia how modern weapons work in real battles.
Russia has studied drones, electronic interference, GPS jamming, and air defenses.
It is using these lessons to design new weapons.
One idea uses the SU-57 fighter to control and launch drones from farther away.
Russia is also developing faster, jet-powered versions of its Geran attack drone.
Some new defenses use guns instead of costly missiles to destroy small drones.
Other weapons are designed to travel hundreds or even up to 1,000 kilometers.
This shows Russia is trying to make weapons that are both advanced and available in large numbers.
More than four years of war have cost Russia personnel, aircraft, armor, ships, and equipment.
The conflict has given Russia combat experience with drones, electronic warfare, GPS jamming, precision weapons, and Western air defenses.
Russia is emphasizing unmanned and stand-off warfare to keep aircraft and personnel farther from enemy defenses.
The SU-57 is being presented as an airborne launch and command platform for drones and stand-off weapons.
New systems include jet-powered Geran variants, lower-cost drone interceptors, the long-range Dan-T, and the Garpia-A1E loitering munition.
- Who
- Russia and Ukraine are the main parties discussed, with Russia developing weapons based on its combat experience in the war.
- What
- Russia is displaying and developing weapons shaped by lessons from the war, including drones, stand-off weapons, air defenses, and loitering munitions.
- When
- After more than four years of war, with the systems discussed displayed at the El Alamein International Airshow.
- Where
- The combat lessons come from Ukraine, while the weapons were displayed at an airshow in El Alamein, Egypt.
- Why
- Russia is seeking to keep expensive aircraft and personnel away from enemy defenses and to produce enough weapons for prolonged combat.
- Conflict duration
- More than four years, according to the article
- Weapons lessons
- Drones, electronic warfare, GPS jamming, precision weapons, and Western-supplied air defenses
- Airborne platform
- Russia displayed the SU-57 as a possible launch and command platform for unmanned weapons
- Dan-T range
- Reportedly up to 450 kilometers
- Garpia-A1E range
- Marketed with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers
- Drone defense approach
- The TKB-1167 uses machine guns against small, low-flying drones rather than expensive missiles
- Event
- El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt