The capabilities and peculiarities of the use of solid lubricating coatings (SLCs) under extreme conditions of the operation of friction units in heat engines and power plants are considered. The results of improving the tribological characteristics of the working surfaces of coated specimens are presented; SLCs were deposited using the three following plasma methods: plasma deposition in an atmosphere (PD), vacuum deposition in a magnetron sputtering system (MSS), and deposition in an electrolyte involving the microarc oxidation method (MAO). Laboratory tests carried out using friction machines have confirmed the efficiency of these coatings under specified conditions.