Russia to Launch Two Military Satellites in February

In early February, a new light-class Soyuz-2.1v rocket will take a new-generation military spacecraft into space. Another launch is slated for the end of the month.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Two military satellites are scheduled to be launched this February from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia, a space industry source told RIA Novosti Tuesday.

“The first launch of 2015 has been tentatively scheduled for early February,” the source said. “A new light-class Soyuz-2.1v rocket with the Volga booster, designed by the Progress space design bureau, will for the first time take a new-generation military spacecraft to orbit.”

During the second launch, slated for late February, a medium Soyuz-2.1a rocket will orbit another military satellite, the source said.

In October 2014, Maj. Gen. Khalil Arslanov, chief of the Main Communications Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, said that Russia intended to add nine military communications satellites to the country's orbital group by 2020.

In September, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin expressed confidence that the country's plans to create grouped military satellites would be complete by 2020.