No More Reductions of Russian Satellite Fleet Planned

MOSCOW. July 14 (Interfax) – Russia is not planning to continue reductions in its fleet of satellites, the Space Troops commander said.

“A trend toward reducing the number of satellites has been stopped, and there is a good chance we will see a breakthrough within the next three-four years,” Lieut. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin told a news conference in the Interfax main office on Wednesday.

“About 100 Russian satellites, including 60 military-purpose ones, are orbiting the Earth at the moment. If we compare the group today with that in the 1990s, the number of satellites has been reduced 2.5 times. However, if we compare 1999 and 2004, the quality has significantly improved although the number of satellites has remained virtually unchanged,” he said.

Until recently, Russia “had to launch satellites developed in the late 1980s or 1990s. The time has come now for us to begin testing satellites developed” following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the commander said.

“We have already started to test a Molniya new communications system. Our other plans for this year include tests of new reconnaissance and communications systems and a launch of a recently developed rocket carrier,” Popovkin said.