Russian military equivalent of Starlink/Starshield (US military version of Starlink).
The Russian "Starlink" Rassvet just deployed 16 satellites with it's first launch of 2026, beginning the rollout of the system.
10-15 more launches are expected in 2026 that should bring up to 300 pieces into space.
Video
Bureau 1440 shows footage of separation of 16 Rassvet satellites from Soyuz's third stage.
https://eadaily.com/en/news/2026/03/...oup-into-orbit
Our Starlink: Russia launched the first 16 satellites of the Rassvet group into orbit
The aerospace company Bureau 1440 (part of the X Holding) launched the first 16 satellites of the Rassvet low-orbit constellation into orbit. This is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to a source in the company.
"On Monday, March 23, at 20:24, the first batch launch of 16 spacecraft of the low—orbit communications grouping took place," the company noted. "The satellites were successfully launched into a reference orbit, separated from the Soyuz 2.1B launch vehicle and taken under the control of the MCC BUREAU 1440. After the inspection and launch of the onboard systems, they will begin moving into the target orbit," the 1440 Bureau explained.
The spacecraft will integrate a communication system based on the 5G NTN architecture, an updated power supply system, new-generation inter-satellite laser communication terminals and a plasma propulsion system. The batch launch was carried out using a self-developed separation system, the developers explained.
"The launch of the first vehicles of the target group means the transition from experiments to the creation of a communication service. The Bureau 1440 team has completed this journey in 1000 days — that's how much separates the launch of experimental and serial satellites into orbit. Ahead is the deployment stage of the grouping, which will require dozens of launches and an increase in the number of vehicles in orbit. This is a complex engineering path associated with technological risks, but it is precisely such systems that will form the basis of the global data transmission infrastructure," said Alexey Shelobkov, CEO of ICS Holding.
The first tests with customers will be held this year, the commercial launch of the service is scheduled for 2027. In total, more than 250 spacecraft will be launched into orbit for global coverage 24/7.