The problem of increasing the adhesive strength of plasma powder coatings by introducing a metal bundle from a new composite powder of domestic production into them has been solved. Synthesis of composite powder material is carried out by the method of cladding matrix ceramic particles with a metal component. The results of studies of a new powder material of the composition (ZrO2+8%Y2O3) with a granular composition of 40/80 microns obtained by chemical cladding of zirconium dioxide particles with a nickel shell (30 wt.%), as well as the coating formed from it. The regularities of the formation of an experimental coating from this powder material with a spherical particle shape have been studied using electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. It is established that a coating with a two-phase composition (T-ZrO2+Ni) is formed during high-energy plasma spraying. In cross-section, the coating is a composite structure consisting of zirconium dioxide grains with nickel interlayers. The coating is characterized by an average hardness of HV(medium) ~ 7,6 GPa and a surface roughness of Ra(medium) ~ 6,12 microns. When micro-indenting, the coating does not show fragility. The scratch test method was used as the main method for studying the strength properties of the coating. During sclerometry, a predominantly cohesive mechanism of coating destruction was established. The destruction occurs by a cohesive mechanism with a violation of the bonds in a thin surface layer and is accompanied by chipping of the microfragments of the coating. The critical load of the beginning of the formation of microcracks (Rs) ~ 10 N and the beginning of the formation of chevron microcracks (Rt) ~ 45 N were determined. The high adhesive strength of the adhesion of the investigated coating to the substrate is shown, since during the tests there is no detachment from the substrate up to the maximum load (200 N). The developed ceramic coating is promising for protection against mechanical and erosive wear of critical parts of power engineering working at elevated temperatures.