MILNET: Soviet Satellites
Since the breakup of the former Soviet Union, it is usual not to use the term Soviet or Soviet Union. However the current satellite fleet in existence were developed, launched and maintained by the former Soviet Union, therefore it is simpliar to refer to them today as Soviet Satellites. Since there would seem to be little forward progress in the Russian Space Program (or in any of the other former Soviet Union members), it is likely that the following information is still quite accurate.
The Soviet has been highly prolific in the launching of reconaissance and communications satellites. Although little is public about the Soviet imaging technology, it is clear they feel they gain useful information, as they have more than doubled the number of spacecraft launched by the U.S. for recon purposes. In terms of Soviet C3I , as of January 1985, the USSR maintained 21 satellites in 12 geostationary orbits (Gorizont 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; Raduga 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15; Ekran 7, 10, 11, 12, 13; and Kosmos 1366, 1540, and 1546) and have launched more than 60 recon or comm satellites since 1962.
Up until the breakup of the Soviet Union, the satellite launch program accelerated, with probably as many short life satellites in orbit as there were geosynchronous. But with the dissolution of the Soviet Space Program since the breakup, the short life satellites have probably dropped in number dramatically.
However as the Russian government has begun revitalizing the Space Program (starting in 1994), it is probable that once again recon satellites have been launched. In any case, former Soviet overhead intelligence satellites launches thru 1984 are listed below:
Soviet Kosmos and Molniya Satellite Missions
From Richelson's Sword and Shield: Soviet Intelligence and Security Apparatus, MILNET Bibliography number 31 or in Defense Electronics' Edition One of the C3I Handbook, MILNET Bibliography number 52 (page number for C3I Handbook are enclosed in brackets "[nnn]").
Satellite Year Type Up Mission Pg # Kosmos 4 4/62 LRF ? First Soviet Imagery 90 Kosmos ? 10/62 ? ? Cuban Missile Crisis 92 Kosmos ? 1967 ? ? Arab-Israeli War 93 Kosmos ? 3/69 ? ? Border hostilites/China 93 Kosmos ? 6/69 ? ? Border hostilites/China 93 Kosmos ? 8/69 ? ? Border hostilites/China 93 Kosmos ? 1968 ? ? Invasion of Czechoslovakia 93 Kosmos 463 1971 HRF ? Indo-Pakistani War 93 Kosmos 464 1971 HRF ? Indo-Pakistani War 93 Kosmos ? 9/72 ? ? Strong Express NATO Ex. 94 Kosmos ?1 Kosmos ?2 Kosmos ?3 10/73 ? ? Seven satellites to 94 Kosmos ?4 Cover the middle east Kosmos ?5 War between Egypt and Kosmos ?6 Israel. Kosmos ?7 Kosmos 651 74 OS ? 104 Kosmos 654 74 OS ? 104 Kosmos 723 75 OS ? 104 Kosmos 724 75 OS ? 104 Kosmos ? 1977 ? ? S. Africa nuclear tests 94 Kosmos ? 11/80 ? ? US/Egypt RDF exercise 94 Kosmos ? 1980 ? ? Same, 24 hrs later 94 Kosmos 1262 1982 HRF ? STS-1 landing 94 Kosmos 1309 1981 LRF 28 ? 91 Kosmos 1343 3/82 HRF ? STS-3 landing & RDF 94 Kosmos 1343 3/82 HRF ? Gallant Eagle in CA. 94 Kosmos 1345 3/82 E 600 RORSAT 97,106 Kosmos 1346 3/82 OS ? EORSAT 97 Kosmos 1347 4/21 OS ? RORSAT 105 Kosmos 1356 5/82 E 600 ELINT 105 Kosmos 1409 09/82 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210] Kosmos 1419 11/82 ? ? Iran-Iraqi war 95 Kosmos 1421 11/82 ? ? Iran-Iraqi war 95 Kosmos 1426 1982 R 67 ? 92
Molniya 3-18 03/82 Comm ? Three 6/4 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 3-19 04/82 Comm ? Three 6/4 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-56 03/83 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 3-20 03/83 Comm ? Three 6/4 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-57 04/83 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-58 06/83 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-59 11/83 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-60 03/84 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-61 08/84 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-62 08/84 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 1-63 12/84 Comm ? Three 1/.8 GHz transponders [213] Molniya 3-22 12/84 Comm ? Three 6/4 GHz transponders [213]
Kosmos 1455 1984 E 600 97 Kosmos 1470 1984 E 600 97 Kosmos 1471 7/83 ? ? El Salvador 95 Kosmos 1503 10/83 Comm ? Real Time Communiations [212] Kosmos 1504 10/83 LRF 53 Grenada 95 Kosmos 1505 10/83 MRF ? Grenada 92 Kosmos 1504 LRF ? Global Mapping *** 95 Kosmos 1507 10/83 OS ? EORSAT 105 Kosmos 1515 1984 E 600 97 Kosmos 1538 02/84 Comm ? Real Time Communications [212] Kosmos 1541 05/84 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210] Kosmos 1547 04/84 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210] Kosmos 1552 R 173 ? 92 Kosmos 1569 06/84 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210] Kosmos 1570 06/84 Comm ? Real Time Communications [212] Kosmos 1581 06/84 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210] Kosmos 1586 08/84 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210] Kosmos 1596 09/84 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210] Kosmos 1603 09/83 E 600 Largest Mil Satellite 97 Kosmos 1604 10/84 EW ? Infrared Early Warning [210]