Fresh launch: Russia, China and Turkey have new weapons systems
In early May, several new developments in the world of weapons were announced at arms exhibitions and in the relevant media, which can significantly change the capabilities of the armies of different countries and the balance of power in possible future confrontations. Among them are the Turkish Yıldırımhan intercontinental missile, Chinese HQ-29 missile defense systems, and Russian electronic warfare systems for protecting Obereg-8 tanks. About the possibilities of the new technology, its characteristics and prospects of use — in the material of Izvestia.
Turkey's Intercontinental ambitions
At the exhibition of achievements of the Turkish military-industrial complex SAHA-2026 in Istanbul, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the project of the first Turkish intercontinental ballistic missile Yıldırımhan. This was reported on May 5 by the Haber 7 TV channel.
Turkey has so far seriously developed aviation weapons and short—range ground-based missile systems, but this project is the first national development of a strategic weapons system.
Yıldırımhan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
The novelty will be single-stage, with liquid rocket engines (LRE). The range should be 6,000 km, and the flight speed in different sections should range from Mach 9 to Mach 25 (the speed of sound). The rocket is equipped with four rocket propellants and, presumably, will be able to carry a warhead weighing up to 3 tons.
The choice of fuel for such a powerful rocket is interesting. All major manufacturers of such weapons are converting missiles weighing up to 100 tons to solid fuel, which simplifies maintenance and reduces operational risks, although it is somewhat more expensive and less energy efficient than liquid fuel. But Turkey chose the LRE. Perhaps the reason for this is future space plans: it is possible that in the future it is planned to create a Turkish space launch vehicle based on the Yıldırımhan ICBM. High energy efficiency of liquid engines is extremely important here.
It is not entirely clear why Turkey needs an ICBM and what tasks it will solve militarily. Apparently, this is a demonstration of the technologies and capabilities of the Turkish aerospace industry.
Yıldırımhan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Although one can also recall Erdogan's nuclear ambitions — such a missile could carry a future Turkish atomic charge, if, of course, it is ever created. And then the balance of power in the whole of Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean will change dramatically.
Chinese missile defense
One of the most discussed novelties of the Chinese military-industrial complex in early May was the HQ-29 mobile missile defense system, which appeared on eyewitness footage on social networks.
An onlooker's video captured the transfer of a division of HQ-29 complexes by rail. Launchers could be seen on some platforms, while transport and launch containers with missiles could be seen on others.
HQ-29 air defense system at the military parade on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the surrender of Japan in Beijing
This fact means that China has already begun deploying its latest anti-missile system, which was first demonstrated at a parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025.
The HQ-29 is the latest mobile system equipped with ammunition for hitting targets outside the Earth's atmosphere. In fact, this is the very first and farthest echelon of Chinese defense, which can intercept any ballistic missiles and even artificial Earth satellites in low orbits.
The range of the complex is 2500 km, the height of interception of targets is from 150 to 800 km. The speed of the anti-missile can reach 10 speeds of sound (12,250 km/h).
HQ-29 air defense system at the military parade on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the surrender of Japan in Beijing
Each six-axis launcher carries two missiles in transport and launch containers. It should be noted that the complex is an analogue of the Russian Nudol complex, which was created to solve similar tasks and test launches of which were carried out at the Plesetsk test site from 2014 to 2021.
Russian drones
New upgraded versions of the Amulet electronic warfare systems, which are installed on T-90M tanks, began to appear in reports from the SVO zone. The new electronic warfare system is equipped with eight independent suppression channels — for this reason it is called "Obereg-8". The complex operates in different frequency ranges, but it is important that it also covers the ultra-low frequency range (from 400 MHz), which operators of FPV drones have massively switched to in recent months.
It creates a zone with a radius of up to 150-300 m around the tank, in which the FPV drone loses the control channel with the operator when using radio communication. The modules of the complex are connected to the electrical network of the tank, which allows the system not to depend on batteries or accumulators.
The developers also took care of the armored hulls for the modules of the complexes — they provided protection from vibration and fragments of exploding shells nearby. With such an electronic warfare system, the life of a tank in modern combat saturated with FPV drones increases significantly.
Unmanned ground vehicle "Volchanin"
A logistics robotic platform, the Volchanin unmanned ground vehicle, is also being tested in the SVO area. The complex was developed at the Volsky branch of the Military Academy of Logistics of the Russian Armed Forces.
The tracked vehicle is controlled by radio and can perform both logistical tasks and evacuate the wounded or become a platform for a mobile firing point.
The 600 kg machine has a range of 30 km and can carry up to 950 kg of cargo. Electric motors make it silent and without heat spots in the infrared range, which are produced by internal combustion engines. The communication range is at least 10 km and can be extended by a repeater drone.
Against the swarm
On May 4, information appeared in the relevant media about another Chinese novelty, the small-sized FK-3000 missiles. They are equipped with the FK-3000 anti-aircraft missile and cannon system of the same name. The missiles are specifically designed to deal with swarms of drones, kamikaze drones, FPV drones, and precision-guided munitions.
The main purpose of the appearance of small—sized missiles is to reduce the cost of hitting relatively inexpensive and massive targets that do not have either high altitude or high speeds.
The caliber of the new Chinese design is 40 mm, the range is up to 5 km, and the flight speed is 600 m/s. The system is equipped with a thermal imaging homing head, which ensures the implementation of the "shot and forget" principle. The SAM combat vehicle can carry up to 96 such missiles (two units of 48 each).
In modern air defense, it is simply necessary to have air defense systems with similar missiles — they have already become part of the armament of the Russian Pantsir air defense systems and have been adopted by helicopters and aircraft in the West (APKWS missiles). Now China has them too.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
