6 Jun 2023 18:54

Russia needs to enlarge satellite network to 1,000 vehicles - Mishustin

MOSCOW. June 6 (Interfax) - Russia should rapidly enlarge its satellite network to 1,000 vehicles, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.

"To retain Russia's position, we need to focus on a number of matters; first and foremost, a swift increase in the number of our satellites to over 1,000, and the Sfera project will serve as a foundation for this," Mishustin said at a strategic session on the development of the rocket and space industry.

This would involve developing capacity for serial satellite production with the participation of private businesses, he said.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on April 12 that Russia had 192 satellites in orbit.

Previously, in July 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Sfera project, which aims to deploy a global satellite network for Internet and telephone service coverage for Russia and other countries.

The Sfera network will consist of five satellite communication systems (Yamal, Express-RV, Express, Skif and Marafon) and five remote sensing systems (Berkut-Kh, Berkut-O, Berkut-VD, Berkut-S and Smotr).