Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Exposes Network of Companies Developing Russia’s Rassvet Satellite Communications System

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine has identified 49 Russian and Belarusian companies involved in developing Russia’s Rassvet low-Earth-orbit satellite communications system.

The War&Sanctions portal reported on this.

According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, the project involves IT companies, microelectronics manufacturers, research institutes, enterprises of the Russian State Corporation for Space Activities “Roscosmos,” and organizations linked to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

Of the 49 companies and institutions identified, 23, including Roscosmos, are not under sanctions imposed by any country in the international sanctions coalition.

The following companies and organizations are involved in the project:

• Main developers: LLC Bureau 1440 and LLC IX Holding coordinate the development of the satellite system and the production of its components.
• Satellite equipment manufacturers: JSC Fab Rassvet, JSC Labs 1440, JSC Design Bureau Fakel, and JSC M.V.Keldysh Research Center. They manufacture satellite equipment, solar panels, electric propulsion systems, and their components.
• Electronics and structural component manufacturers: LLC Yadro Fab Dubna, LLC Rezonit, LLC IX Fab Vostok, LLC IX Fab Cascade, JSC NPF Mikran, JSC Kompozit, and other companies. They supply printed circuit boards, electronic modules, high-frequency components, and structural materials.
• Ground equipment developers: LLC Special Technology Center, LLC NPO Radiovolna, LLC 5S Group, and LLC Enterprise Eltex. They develop gateway stations and supply radio-electronic equipment, industrial computers, and network switches.
• Rocket and space industry enterprises: Roscosmos State Corporation, JSC Progress Rocket Space Center, JSC Lavochkin Association, JSC TsENKI, and JSC Kompressor. They manufacture launch vehicles and upper stages, prepare launch infrastructure, and launch satellites.
• Military organizations and enterprises: JSC Central Research Institute of Automation and Hydraulics, JSC NPP Radar MMS, PJSC Vympel Interregional Industrial Company, the G.S. Titov Main Test Space Center, and the 821st Main Center for Space Situation Reconnaissance. Their involvement centers on integrating the Rassvet system into military communications, command-and-control, and target-designation systems.
• Belarusian participants: CJSC Aerospace Instruments develops component prototypes for the system, while the Plant of Precision Electromechanics, through its Belintersat branch, participates in integrating the Rassvet system into Belarus’s telecommunications infrastructure.
• Financial and commercial partners: VTB Bank was one of the project’s investors, while PJSC MegaFon is its strategic partner and a potential customer for its services.

Once the satellite constellation is fully deployed, it is intended to provide strategic communications, support command and control of troops and strike platforms, transmit data from unmanned systems, and equip command posts and military vehicles with satellite terminals.

According to information published by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, these plans will be implemented once the orbital constellation reaches 292 satellites.

The system’s priority coverage area will include Ukraine and EU countries. Intelligence officials warn that, once it achieves sufficient coverage, Russia could also use the system to conduct hybrid operations against other countries.

Deployment of the Rassvet Satellite System

The Rassvet system consists of a low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, ground-based control infrastructure, gateway stations, and subscriber terminals for fixed and mobile platforms.

In July, Russian satellites provided at least two communication windows per day over Ukraine, each lasting more than an hour.

In October, the first satellite from the second batch reached an operational altitude of around 500 km. That same month, Bureau 1440 unveiled three types of user terminals designed to connect to the satellite system.

The article “Electronic Warfare Against Rassvet: Why Ukraine Needs to Act Now” analysed the capabilities of EW means to counter Russia’s satellite communications system.