01:02 19-01-2026

Rassvet: Russia’s Starlink-Style Military Sat Network

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Military expert Yuri Knutov says Russia’s Rassvet satellite network and Zorkiy imaging spacecraft could reshape command, secure troop communications and boost Arctic connectivity.

Military analyst Yuri Knutov believes the new Rassvet satellite system, often described as Russia’s answer to Starlink, has the potential to reshape how the country commands its troops.

He argues that the Zorkiy remote-sensing satellites will sharpen the guidance of high-precision strike systems, making targeting more accurate. According to Knutov, the primary role of the new orbital constellation will be military: providing Russian forces with stable, secure satellite communications.

Knutov explains that Rassvet is conceived as a step toward a global automated command-and-control network, in which each serviceman would be able to receive information and transmit coordinates directly via satellite.

At the same time, he expects the system to extend beyond purely military use. In his view, Rassvet could be used to bring internet access to remote regions of Russia and to create additional communication channels for civilian vessels. The system, he notes, should also strengthen communications and navigation in the Arctic.

The expert acknowledges that at the initial stage Rassvet’s capabilities will be inferior to the American Starlink system, but still regards it as a major technological breakthrough for Russia.

Earlier, Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov spoke about the Zorkiy satellite grouping. He specified that these are ultra-compact Earth remote-sensing spacecraft equipped with high-resolution telescope cameras, capable of capturing detailed images of the planet’s surface for a wide range of tasks.