Vitaly Mironicev, a representative of the Roscosmos state company, indicated that the plan for the near future envisions deploying an orbital constellation consisting of four Arktika-M satellites by 2029. He shared these details during a meeting with officials from executive authorities, focusing on the specific steps required to secure and process requests for satellite imagery and related data services. The announcement underscores Russia’s intent to expand its space-based observation capabilities and leverage the Arktika-M series to enhance monitoring, data collection, and situational awareness across vast Arctic regions. The discussion highlighted the operational framework, timelines, and the collaborative processes needed to translate technical ambitions into a reliable, sustainable satellite imaging program that serves national interests and strategic industries alike.
According to Mironichev, the Arktika-M constellation will offer continuous Arctic surveillance from multiple vantage points, ensuring persistent coverage of critical zones including the Northern Sea Route. This dual-angle monitoring approach is designed to deliver timely, high-resolution imagery and analytical data that support navigation safety, weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and security planning in the high latitudes. The strategy emphasizes resilience against adverse weather and space conditions, with a focus on robust data delivery pipelines that enable decision-makers to respond quickly to evolving situations in the Arctic environment and its neighboring maritime corridors.
The first Arktika-M satellite was successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on February 28, 2021, marking a significant milestone in Russia’s remote sensing capabilities. The launch of Arktika-M No.2 is anticipated to occur in 2023, with subsequent satellites following in a carefully planned sequence. These spacecraft are expected to provide continuous and reliable communications, alongside 24-hour monitoring of terrestrial surfaces and Arctic Ocean regions under all weather conditions. Their onboard sensors and communication systems are designed to deliver a steady stream of geospatial data and telemetry, enabling ground stations and end users to access up-to-date information for a wide range of applications—from climate research to resource management and national security—under a unified, interoperable data framework.
Earlier reports from Roscosmos indicated that the Russian satellite relay Luch-5X, launched by a Proton-M rocket from Baikonur during the night of March 13, had entered a retrograde orbit aimed at establishing a resilient relay network. Roscosmos stated that Luch-5X would help advance modern relay and communication technologies, expanding the capacity for high-speed data transfer between satellites in low and medium Earth orbits and ground-based infrastructure. The development of Luch-5X is positioned as a foundational step toward a broader space-based communications architecture, one that can support a growing mix of remote sensing, telemetry, and command-and-control activities across Russia and allied regions, thereby enhancing overall space-domain awareness and operational readiness across multiple government sectors.