11:04 06-01-2026

Rostec Unveils Networked Warfare Concept for Future Tanks

Rostec outlines a new concept for future tanks, focusing on deep integration with drones, artillery, air defense and automated command systems on the battlefield.

Next-generation tanks will no longer operate as isolated units but as elements of a single, highly automated combat system tightly linked with other forces and assets on the battlefield, according to Russia’s state corporation Rostec.

The company explains that future armored formations will be defined less by the standalone performance of individual vehicles and more by how deeply they are integrated into a broader combat network. This network is expected to unite automated command-and-control systems, multiple classes of unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based robotic platforms, artillery, electronic warfare and air defense assets, as well as engineering units and anti-tank capabilities.

Rostec notes that such an integrated approach allows a significant portion of anti-tank threats to be identified and neutralized in advance. As a result, tanks would have a higher chance of reaching designated attack lines before the active phase of an operation even begins, reducing vulnerability at the most dangerous stages of deployment.

At the same time, developers stress that promising armored vehicles will not abandon their traditional design principles. Future tanks are still expected to feature tracked chassis, heavy armor protection, and a rotating turret armed with a medium- or large-caliber gun. However, their development will take into account modern requirements for survivability and firepower, with particular emphasis on enhancing crew situational awareness in increasingly complex combat environments.

In Rostec’s view, the tank of the future is not just a heavily protected gun platform, but a fully connected combat node-one that derives its real strength from constant data exchange and coordinated action with the entire range of forces operating on the battlefield.