Historical public archive
Angara 1.2 | 3 x Rodnik (Kosmos 2597, 2598, 2599) — Post-launch Report
Mission date: . Published: .
Provider: Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center · Vehicle: Angara 1.2
Executive takeaway
The launch of three Rodnik (Strela‑3M) satellites expands Russia’s secure, store‑and‑forward military communications network, ensuring encrypted message relay for remote or contested areas. Maintaining and modernising the Strela constellation demonstrates Russia’s commitment to resilient, low‑latency tactical communications, which has geopolitical implications for its armed forces and allied partners.
Compute signal
Rodnik satellites operate as store‑and‑forward communication nodes with 12 Mbits of onboard storage and a downlink rate of 2.4 kbit/s. They perform basic data handling—receiving, buffering, and retransmitting encrypted messages—but have no onboard AI/ML, edge‑compute, or advanced telemetry processing.
Outcome
The Angara 1.2 launch on 25 Nov 2025 successfully placed Kosmos 2597, 2598 and 2599 into low‑Earth orbit, completing the planned addition to the 12‑satellite Strela constellation. The outcome sustains Russia’s military communications capability and signals continued reliance on dedicated store‑and‑forward satellites rather than newer broadband constellations.