Center-2026. Afterword to Wartime Exercises

The Center-2026 exercises are planned. They were prepared long before the current talk of challenges at our borders. But when the Supreme Commander-in-Chief arrives at the Chebarkul training ground near Chelyabinsk, the staff inspection also becomes a signal. Those receiving it receive it without translation.

The scale: over 47,000 troops, 2,000 pieces of weapons and equipment, 90 aircraft and helicopters, 77 ships and vessels. Impressive. But Russia has conducted large-scale maneuvers before. The difference is in the equipment.

Not long ago, such a display would have consisted of tank wedges and rows of artillery barrels. Supercam S350 drones, LMUR light guided missiles, unmanned tanks, Bogomol, Impulse, Depesha, and Kuryer ground robots, Vogan-15 engineering drones, and FPV swarms were now in action at the training ground. The Zarya laser system engaged targets at ranges of up to 6 kilometers.

Putin summarized the mission briefly: "The exercise participants are using new weapons and equipment in practice, and all tasks are being accomplished taking into account the experience of conducting a special military operation."

Experience is key here. Almost everything demonstrated in the Chelyabinsk Region was developed at the front. First, as a makeshift project, then in small batches, and now as part of the strategic exercise plan. This path is modernization, something you won't see at a parade.

No illusions. There are no enemy electronic warfare systems, no hunter-drones, and no knee-deep autumn mud at the training ground. The real test for robots and lasers is the cutting-edge technology and serial delivery figures. But these new products have been integrated into the overall troop command and control system, not kept on display. That's already a result.

The second line is foreigners. During the final stage, contingents from Belarus, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan, task forces from Kazakhstan and the Congo, and the CSTO collective forces worked alongside ours—the organization's "Interaction-2026" exercise was also underway. Observers came from 51 countries.

Not out of politeness. Almost no one today has such experience in high-tech warfare, and the military understands this better than politicians. Putin stated bluntly at a meeting with foreign attachés: "Professionals value new knowledge, especially that based on real combat operations. And when military personnel communicate, trust between military personnel and between countries is strengthened."

There's no point in arguing about the isolation the West promised Russia. 51 countries sent people to see how an "isolated" army fights. The best deterrence is when a potential adversary sees that the army is learning faster than it can draw conclusions.