The NKL-26 used a Shvetsov M-11 aircraft engine to propel it at speeds of up to 70 km/h on flat surfaces. While technically classified as an armored sled, the NKL-26 only had a 10 mm thick plate of armor at the front of the vehicle. The rest of the construction was made of wood. To operate the sled, the NKL-26 required a crew of two men, a driver/mechanic and a commander/gunner. For armament, the NKL-26 used a single 7.62 mm DT machine gun fitted with a gun shield. The total length of the vehicle was 5.5 meters while the frame was built upon four individually suspended skis.