Vladimir Kirillov

Despite the economic crisis and the reorganization of the space industry Russia still has serious space potential in the beginning of the 21st century. The first generation of the space devices were created in the 60’s and used for photographic and electronic surveillance, satellite communication, space navigation, meteorological and geodesic systems. Most of them entered service in the Soviet Army. The second generation was being designed as integrated battle systems with longer function terms and uniform board systems construction. It allowed to create permanently acting space systems which still compose the basis of the Russian military space.

In the 80’s and the 90’s the USSR and then Russia couldn’t compete with the USA on creation and deployment of the third generation spacecrafts which had more installed devices and equipment and cost US$ 0,5 – 1,5 billion. The refusal of the third generation satellites construction gave our country a chance to preserve large financial resources and to concentrate on development of small spacecrafts and microsatelites by the end of the 90’s.

The scientific progress made possible the creation of smaller and cheaper spacecrafts which carry not more than ten of scientific devices. Being brought into space even by ICM the small spacecrafts integrated in system are able to perform the mission of single third generation giant satellite. NASA was the first to develop this conception called “Faster, Cheaper, Better”. But the interests of the US spacecrafts producers who benefits from the defense ministry’s orders on big and expensive satellites hinders transition to the new systems. The Americans still plan to deploy only one forth generation missile attack warning system – SBIRS Low.

Russia who missed the stage of the third generation satellites deployment has no such problems and are in better position for transition to smaller and cheaper devices of the next generation. Though the Russian Ministry of Defense began to support the development of economical small satellites it won’t be able to take all expenses because of its small budget. That’s why Russian producers attract the finance facilities of the foreign clients. The construction of microsatellites contributes to the development of other industrial branches such as microelectronics an cybernetics and telecommunications. Now several Russian firms have already developed and are ready to deploy in space by 2000-2002 microsatellites for optical and radar surveillance, missile attack warning, navigation and communication. 

The forth generation spacecrafts will allow Russia to keep the necessary level of space armaments and to reach parity with the USA in military spacecrafts.