Sotnik soldier equipment program

A proposed Russian successor to Ratnik soldier equipment whose advertised capabilities exceeded the publicly documented progress of the integrated program.

Reference reviewed 30 September 2026.

Overview

Rostec announced Sotnik, or Centurion, in June 2019 as third-generation soldier equipment intended to begin replacing Ratnik in 2025. TsNIITochMash was to lead development. The proposed ensemble combined lighter protection, camouflage, displays, communications and links to small drones, with an advertised mass target of about 20 kilograms. Original announcement.

The program did not follow a clearly documented path to that target. Rostec industrial director Bekkhan Ozdoev said in November 2020 that the developer had not received the technical assignment. Armocom deputy director Oleg Faustov said in November 2022 that the intended Sotnik effort had been divided into ammunition, weapons and equipment projects, and that the equipment project had not begun. His account concerns the integrated effort; it does not mean that all related technology research stopped. Ozdoev interview; Faustov interview.

Later primary statements describe Legionnaire, also transliterated Legioner, as a distinct research effort. TsNIITochMash described its consortium in 2023; Rostec associated the Karakurt drone with the developing ensemble in 2024. No accepted, mass-fielded Sotnik set or independently verified combat use of the complete ensemble was established in the research reviewed through September 2026. Research leadership; Component announcement.

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