Russia has already launched two military satellites this year.

The satellites, which will have a lifespan of seven to 10 years, will be launched from cosmodromes in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan in central Asia and the northern Russian region of Arkhangelsk, the ministry said.

The Russian military intends over the next few years to move activities from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to its cosmodrome in Plesetsk, Arkhangelsk, where it hopes to develop the ambitious Angara rocket project.

Currently almost three quarters of Russia's military satellites are launched from Baikonur, which is leased by Kazakhstan to Russia for 115 million dollars (100 million euros) a year.

SPACE.WIRE