Russia Launches Second Batch of 'Rassvet' Satellites — Can It Catch Up to Starlink?.

Deployment of 'Rassvet' Satellites

According to Espreso.tv: Russia has sent a second wave of its 'Rassvet' satellites into orbit, aiming to create a homegrown alternative to the well-known Starlink network. Currently, around 40 satellites from this project are in space.

Russia launched the second batch of 'Rassvet' satellites, designed to rival Starlink

Sergei Beskrestnov

However, to enable military use of these satellites against an adversary, several hundred units would need to be deployed. For context, consider the scale of existing networks:

• SpaceX operates over 15,000 satellites;
• One Web has between 600 and 700 satellites;
• Amazon's Project Kuiper aims to launch up to 4,000 satellites, with 400–500 already in orbit.

Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert 'Madyar' Brovdi, stated that Russian forces already possess prototypes of Starlink-like systems. While these are currently crude and easily detectable, he warned they could evolve into a fully functional alternative network spanning the entire frontline within a year.

Technological Race

The launch of the 'Rassvet' satellites highlights Russia's push to develop its own satellite internet network, potentially boosting its communications capabilities—especially in conflict scenarios. Yet given that a fully operational network requires many more units, the current fleet may fall short of delivering the necessary performance. This underscores the high-stakes technological competition between Russia and the West in satellite communications, a race that could carry significant strategic implications for military operations in the region.