The Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a Soyuz-2.1v carrier rocket launch from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, placing a military satellite into orbit. The mission marks another operation in the ongoing sequence of space activities conducted for defense purposes, reinforcing Russia’s space capabilities and national security interests.
According to officials, the launch occurred at 22:57 on Wednesday, March 29, from the state test cosmodrome situated in the Arkhangelsk region. The aerospace teams of the Space Forces executed the mission using the Soyuz-2.1v light-class launch vehicle, with the payload dedicated to the needs of the Russian Ministry of Defense. This vehicle is designed to deliver small to medium payloads into orbit with precision and reliability, supporting strategic comms, reconnaissance, and other defense-related satellite functionalities.
As of March 2023, statements indicated that the Russian Aerospace Forces had already deployed six satellites aligned with defense requirements, with the recent Plesetsk launch representing the second deployment within the year. The Soyuz-2.1v configuration offers a payload capacity of roughly 2.8 tons and is capable of delivering payloads to low Earth orbits at altitudes around 200 kilometers, enabling fast, responsive space infrastructure for military applications.
Earlier missions from the same site included launches of the Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying reconnaissance and support satellites for the defense ministry. These successive launches illustrate a sustained program to expand and modernize Russia’s space-based defense assets, leveraging Plesetsk as a key test and deployment venue for reliable access to space.