- Russia moves closer to launching another wave of Rassvet communications satellites
- Fresh launch announcement points towards another important milestone for the Rassvet network
- Russia is planning hundreds of satellites to build an independent communications network
A recent aerospace announcement suggests that Russia is preparing to launch satellites for its Rassvet communications network in the coming days.
The announcement, identified by a social media user who tracks Russian launches, points to a launch window at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome between July 11 and July 16, 2026.
Roscosmos, the agency responsible for the country’s space program, has not confirmed the exact timeline, and there is no official comment from the Russian government.
A constellation years in the making
The first three Rassvet satellites reached orbit in 2023 aboard the Rassvet-1 mission from Vostochny Cosmodrome along with other Roscosmos payloads.
These devices served solely as test hardware verifying data transmission, communication stability, and orbital behavior rather than offering commercial service.
Three larger satellites followed in May 2024 during the Rassvet-2 mission, launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome as full-fledged production prototypes for testing.
These prototypes tested satellite communications equipment supporting the 5G NTN standard, along with laser links connecting satellites directly in orbit.
Production challenges reportedly affected supply chains for critical components, contributing to schedule slippages across multiple phases of the broader program.
In March, Bureau 1440 announced the launch of 16 satellites that form the basis of the future Rassvet system, approximately three months behind the original schedule.
The announcement specifies that one or two launchers could lift off from Plesetsk during the five-day window identified by observers.
Military efforts behind the broadcast timeline
Russia’s Federal Internet Access Infrastructure Project outlines a gradual rollout with 156 satellites planned for 2026 and 292 in 2027.
The figure for 2027 is described as sufficient for full commercial service, while the full constellation of 318 satellites is expected in 2028.
Even partial deployment in 2026 and 2027 would give the Russian military renewed access to a reliable Starlink-like communications system.
It rushed to launch after SpaceX blocked Russia’s unauthorized use of its satellite internet system, prompting Moscow to pursue alternative battlefield communications.
It recently tested a high-altitude stratospheric balloon relay network called Barrazh 1, designed to carry communications relay equipment to about 20 km above the ground.
Ukraine and Western nations have long relied on Starlink for battlefield connectivity, prompting Moscow to pursue its own independent alternative system.
Among other things, such a capability can be used to help coordinate and guide strike drones directly across contested battlefield environments.
The ground terminals reportedly rely on active phased array technology, similar in principle to the hardware already used by Starlink users.
This design allows a terminal to automatically establish and maintain a stable connection with satellites overhead without requiring manual adjustment by operators.
Whether or not this specific launch window will materialize as planned is still uncertain given Bureau 1440’s history of production delays and revised timelines.
If Rassvet proceeds according to the stated schedule, it will mark a significant step towards completely reducing Russian dependence on foreign satellite networks.
Via Militarnyi
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