One of the "banes" of the 1990s for the miltech enthusiast was very little was really happening. I mean, the most exciting bit to come out was the Joint Strike Fighter. bah. (from the point of view of stability in the world, it was good. Alas, miltech excitement and international dangers are tied together).
There are many things afoot for the Russian military and I don't mean
their officially unofficial war in Ukraine against their Slavic
cousins. Russia has come back into the game of doing interesting things tech wise. Or in some cases, they are claiming they are doing exciting things.
In the everything old is new again category, Russia is considering bringing back some of the blinding laser 'tanks' the Soviets built. These are the equivalent of the Stinger laser pods developed for the Bradley IFVs, but on a T-80 chassis and being a dedicated platform rather than a secondary armament. There is an arms race in the high energy laser department - US leading by a body length at least, if not a lap ahead - and its getting more and more serious. So long as you have power, you don't have an empty magazine and the cost per shot is really, really low. However, the ruby laser blinding weapons on these tanks are virtually useless in reality. It's also not an encouraging sign for Russian miltech: technology has advanced significantly, especially in lasers, that bringing back a 30 (!) year old design does not help. Bringing back those designs seems to be a common theme in Russian militaria, given the plan to start building the Tu-160 strategic bomber again.
Speaking of strategic bombers, the PAK DA - Russia's new bomber design - will fly in 2023 to 2024. This is rumored to be a stealth bomber, even a flying wing, but there are still fan boys out there claiming this is a hypersonic bomber. Given how wildly wrong the fanboys were over the Armata, we shall see.
The T-14 Armata is Russia's new main battle tank. Crew of two and a unmanned turret, its supposed to be able to go toe to toe with an Abrams. Its also based on a chassis which is supposed to do what the Future Combat System was supposed to do for the US Army: a standard chassis which multiple vehicles are built from to reduce the parts and costs. Russia Military Reform has a run down on the program.
However, Russia may not be able to afford all these wonder weapons. Foxtrot Alpha has a editorial on the subject. Weapons are expensive and procuring them when your economy is not doing as well or the price of oil has not recovered is rather difficult.
Given all of the above it becomes easy, all too easy, to dismiss Russia's capabilities. That would be a mistake, just as it would be to dismiss the US military due to its recent procurement problems. A very good example of what would make the US nervous which the Russians are doing and doing well is the Russian satellite currently orbit maneuvering and actively - or at least seemingly - doing a test inspection of an orbiting upper stage of a rocket. It's actions are consistent with an ASAT: antisatellite weapon. Given how dependent the US is on space as a sanctuary for its communications and observation, an active and capable ASAT is very nerve racking.
However, while we ought not dismiss the Russians, there are signs some of their traditional relationships may be breaking down. The Indians have requested foreign help in designing their next, recently spec'ed indigenous aircraft carrier. The Russians, Americans, Brits and French were contacted for that help. A key component the Indians are seeking is a catapult for their next carrier. And...that's pretty much an American tech at this point. Given the US Navy and the Indian Navy both have stated they want to collaborate on carriers...
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