Variation of "Potemkin Villages": the media compiled the top of the Kremlin's most failed weapons (photo)
The Russians have developed a lot of similar weapons, which are not capable of being effective under modern conditions and increasing the military status of the Kremlin. The publication "UNIAN" made a rating of the most unsuccessful weapons of Russia, which included both combat vehicles and missile systems. In 2021, the Russians presented a new development — the fifth-generation Checkmate Su-75 "Shah and Mat" fifth-generation fighter.
In Russia, it was announced as an alternative to the American F-35 and F-22. It was assumed that the first flight of the Su-75 would take place in 2023, but this has not yet been realized. American analyst Caleb Larson, in an article for 19FortyFive, noted that the fighter is not flying anywhere, and probably "will not fly anywhere" in the near future. The Su-75 was supposed to interest foreign markets, primarily states that do not have access to Western military equipment, the analyst noted.
However, the Russians have not yet presented a real sample, and data on the progress of the project is limited to statements. The ability of the Russians to successfully complete the project and get the Su-75 into the sky has also been reduced by anti-Russian sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine. The Russians announced the creation of an analogue of the American "stealth" B-2 — the PAK DA subsonic bomber ("Product 80").
It is worth noting that back in 2021, the general outlines of the future PAK DA strategic bomber were agreed upon in the Russian Federation. Despite this, the timing of its creation remains uncertain — earlier tests were planned for 2022.
However, the development itself has been ongoing since 2009 and is still only on paper, despite significant investments in the development of strategic aviation of the Russian Federation, as evidenced by the documents of the private intelligence company Dallas. Analysts point out that without advanced stealth, such a bomber would not make any sense, as it would be no better than the existing Tu-95, Tu-22M3 or Tu-160.
The development of the 25-ton BMP (family) began in the 2010s, in 2013 the first prototype was presented. The debut of the car took place during the parade on May 9, 2015, and since then this development has "shine" only at various public events and parades. The Russians announce that the Kurganets-25 BMP will take a place in the single modular triad of Russian BBMs alongside the Boomerang wheeled platform and the heavy gun-based BMP.
As of May 2025, the machine is still in the stage of preliminary tests. The Russian tank support vehicle (BMPT) "Terminator", unlike the above-mentioned weapons, has already been implemented and is even participating in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Despite loud statements, the implementation of the "Terminator" BMPT is not a "breakthrough" for the Russians.
The publication writes that the Terminator, armed with two 30-mm guns, is no better than the conventional T-72B3, T-80BVM and T-90M tanks with a 125-mm gun. In addition, the machine is expensive and difficult to manufacture. Ukraine was able to sink the new Russian ship "Sergiy Kotov" project 22160 in March 2024 with the help of MAGURA V5 surface drones. The publication writes that the ship was "the apotheosis of German naval power.
" This is indicated by the small displacement, which caused insufficient seaworthiness and the impossibility of placing modular weapons, and the design of the hull, which was supposed to be "innovative", caused the fact that in terms of speed characteristics, the ships of the project are inferior even to the armored cruiser "Boyarin", built more than 100 years ago.
The basis of the Avangard guided warhead missile complex is a hypersonic guided warhead launched at a target using the UR-100N UTTH intercontinental ballistic missile. Its task is to overcome the anti-missile defense of the United States, but this weapon does not strengthen Russia's nuclear arsenal, but reduces its capabilities.
All because the intercontinental ballistic missile UR-100N UTTH is capable of hitting the enemy with six nuclear warheads, and in the case of the "Avangard" the number drops to 1. "Given the fact that today no country in the world can intercept a mass attack of conventional ICBM ballistic warheads, the development of the "Avangard" did not make any sense," the author notes.
Captain 1st rank in reserve, former deputy chief of staff of the Navy of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Andriy Ryzhenko explained in an interview with "UNIAN" on October 27 that "Burevestnyk" is a typical subsonic cruise missile similar to Kh-101 or "Kalibr" in its design. Its difference from cruise missiles is the use of a miniature nuclear reactor instead of a classic turbojet engine with fuel combustion.
The expert explained that even with the successful operation of such a reactor, the missile remains subsonic, therefore it is unable to avoid interception by modern means of air defense. Analysts believe that "Petrel" is too slow, weak, expensive and vulnerable development of the Russians. On October 29, Vladimir Putin announced the "successful test" of the Poseidon nuclear submarine unmanned vehicle, and announced its development back in 2018. This is an extremely expensive project.
It is assumed that this development is a "reincarnation" of Stalin's T-15, which was designed to deliver a thermonuclear charge to the shores of the United States underwater. In the presence of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SSBMs), the parties will destroy each other in war conditions even before the Poseidon even reaches the shores of the enemy's location, analysts say. Therefore, the development is considered quite pointless.
The "Peresvit" complex was created in order to prevent the deployment of a group of intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying nuclear weapons, as Defense Express analysts wrote. The Russians also said that the complex is allegedly capable of countering reconnaissance satellites in orbit. The Russians have traditionally claimed that "Peresvit" supposedly "has no analogues" in the world.
However, analysts point out that laser weapons have a number of disadvantages, including the effect of energy dissipation in the atmosphere, dependence on weather conditions, etc. The Russian main battle tank T-14 "Armata" is considered no better than the old Soviet designs, which can only protect against outdated anti-tank missile systems of the second generation.
The problem with the development, in particular, is that the Russians equipped it with a twelve-cylinder X-shaped A-85-3A engine, which is considered unreliable. In addition, its price is impressive - according to various estimates, it reaches about 8 million dollars. Some generally assume that this tank is nothing more than an "illusion".