Russia's Rassvet Starlink Rival Targets Full Launch in 2027
Bureau 1440 has put 32 serial Rassvet satellites into orbit, but a full broadband constellation is planned only for 2027 and will need at least 16–17 more launches.
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giftdetect· the right gift in minutesRussia plans to bring its Rassvet satellite broadband system into full operation in 2027, according to Financial Times data on the project developed by the private aerospace company Bureau 1440. The company has so far sent 32 serial satellites into orbit.
The finished constellation is meant to include more than 250 spacecraft at an altitude of around 800 km. For now, most of the satellites launched operate at roughly 510 km.
Limited coverage for now
Experts estimate that the current satellites can provide connectivity for up to three hours a day, with a single continuous session lasting about 50 minutes. Space analyst Anatoly Zak told the FT that stable service requires enough satellites to relay signals to one another.
Chinese dependence as a brake
Pavel Luzin, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), estimates that at least 16–17 more launches will be needed. He considers it difficult to complete the deployment before the end of 2027. One factor slowing the project is its dependence on Chinese technology and components.
Rassvet began in 2020 as a civilian initiative to bring internet access to remote regions of Russia. It later became one of the priorities in building a domestic alternative to Starlink.
For now, the system is far from the continuous coverage that Starlink offers, and the 2027 target depends on how quickly the launch cadence picks up and on component supply.
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