In six years, the Russian Armed Forces have received more than 115,000 pieces of modern communication equipment, which now accounts for 68%, said Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu at a board meeting.

He added that modern digital telecommunications equipment has been installed in more than 1,400 of the department’s facilities, ensuring “the full range of modern communications services, including protected high-resolution video conferencing on all management levels – from the General Staff to the individual military unit or recruitment office”.

Shoygu also said that two upgraded Meridian-M communications satellites will be launched for the Defense Ministry by the end of the year. Various media outlets have pointed out that this is the first mention of the existence of “modernized” Meridian satellites.

Four satellites will form the “Blagovest” military communications orbital group, Shoygu noted. This will expand the zones that can access satellite communication within Russia and outside of it, including the Arctic zone, the general explained.

Seven Meridian satellites were launched between 2006 and 2014. The first was critically damaged when the hermetically sealed container was punctured by a piece of space debris; the second was put into an unplanned orbit, but still functions correctly, and the fifth was not put into orbit at all. Meridians are designed to function for at least seven years.

The Blagovest telecommunications configuration is supposed to include four satellites and provide global coverage. Its purpose is to ensure that the Russian military has access to high-speed data transmission, TV and radio, internet, telephone, and other forms of communication. The satellites will use the Ka and Q frequency bands.

  Russia, Shoygu, Meridian-M

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