Russia’s Rassvet satellite constellation could eventually provide Russian Armed Forces units in the special military operation zone with permanent high-speed internet access, according to military analyst and air defense historian Yuri Knutov.

Knutov said the system could be particularly useful for drone operators. Russian forces currently use mesh networks among other methods to control UAVs, with one drone relaying a signal to another. This approach allows data transmission over distances of around 150 kilometers, but its bandwidth is significantly lower than that offered by satellite communications.

According to the analyst, Rassvet could enable operators to control next-generation drones equipped with video cameras from deep inside Russian territory. An operator would be able to receive the same video feed seen by a Geran drone and guide it toward a target.

Knutov also said further deployment of the Rassvet constellation could allow ordinary mobile phones to connect to the internet without additional equipment. The service is expected to cover remote areas of Russia as well.

He explained that broadband data could be transferred at high speed from one satellite to another before being transmitted to the ground, with no significant distortion.

The analyst also pointed to Ukraine’s reaction to the project. According to the article, Ukraine formally asked the International Telecommunication Union to exclude its territory from the declared coverage areas of the Rassvet satellite system across all frequency bands.