Kanal13

Flamingo missiles destroy Russia's space program; Kremlin loses ability to quickly launch satellites

Duration: 3:33 444 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

On the night of August 15th, Ukrainian defense forces executed a series of long-range strikes targeting Russian military installations, with preliminary reports indicating that one specific objective was the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara. This facility serves as a cornerstone of Russia's space industry, and around 4:00 a.m. local time, a missile alert was issued in the region following observations of aircraft overhead, powerful explosions, and massive fires. While researchers are still working to pinpoint the exact impact site using available imagery, some evidence suggests that two Flamingo cruise missiles were launched against the target, potentially causing significant damage to the western part of the complex where final production stages occur. The strategic importance of this strike lies in the fact that the Progress Rocket and Space Center is the sole large-scale production facility for Soyuz launch vehicles, specifically the Soyuz 2.1B variant. These rockets have been instrumental in launching Russia's Rassvet satellites, which are designed to form the basis of a domestic satellite constellation similar to Starlink, as well as various military satellites for the Russian Ministry of Defense. If the strike successfully damaged the production workshops and equipment within this unique complex, it could severely disrupt multiple Russian space programs simultaneously, leaving the country with only a limited number of already manufactured rockets available at spaceports. In response to potential disruptions in Soyuz production, Russia would theoretically need to rely on the Angara family of rockets produced at the Polyot plant in Omsk as an alternative. However, this transition presents significant challenges because the launch rate for Angara rockets remains substantially lower than that of the Soyuz system. Since 2022, Russia has managed only nine launches of the Angara rocket, comprising two heavy A5 models and seven lighter 1.2 versions, highlighting a stark disparity in operational capacity. Consequently, serious damage to the Progress facility could leave Russia with few viable options for future space launches, effectively crippling its ability to quickly deploy new satellites and maintain its broader space ambitions.

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As reported on the night of August 15th, Ukrainian defense forces launched a series of long-range strikes against Russian military installations. According to preliminary and unofficial information, one of the targets was the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara, a key facility in the Russian space industry, Defense Express reports. Around 4:00 a.m. local time, a missile alert was issued in the Samara region. At approximately 3:40 a.m., local sources reported the sound of an aircraft flying overhead, a powerful explosion, and a massive fire. Some videos suggest that two launches were conducted. This theory is indirectly supported by a post by Fire Point Chief Designer Denis Styler man, who showed footage of the launch of two FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles. Using one of the available images, researchers are attempting to determine the exact impact site. It is tentatively to be located near the Progress Rocket and Space Center. However, the extent of the damage will only be fully confirmed once satellite imagery becomes available. The Progress Rocket and Space Center produces Soyuz launch vehicles, particularly the Soyuz 2.1 B. These rockets have already twice launched the Rassvet satellites into orbit, which are intended to form the basis of Russia's equivalent of the Starlink satellite system. At the same time, Soyuz 2.1 B is also used to launch other Russian military satellites. Therefore, serious damage to the facility could potentially impact several Russian space programs. The enterprise is located on the premises of the Aviakor Aircraft Plant in Samara. It is effectively the only large production complex, consisting of workshops totaling approximately 1 km in length, where the various stages of Soyuz launch vehicle production take place. Preliminary estimates suggest the strike may have hit the western part of the complex, where the final stages of production take place. If this is confirmed, damage could have been caused not only to production facilities and equipment, but also to launch vehicles in various stages of assembly. After the outbreak of full-scale war, Russia launched approximately six to eight Soyuz 2.1B spacecraft per year. They were used for various space programs, including satellite launches for the Russian Ministry of Defense. If the damage to the Progress rocket is significant, Russia could face serious problems with future space launches. In that case, it will be left with already manufactured rockets delivered to spaceports, of which there may be only a few. An alternative is the Angara family of rockets, which are produced at the Polyot plant in Omsk. However, their launch rate is still significantly lower. Since 2022, Russia has conducted only nine Angara launches, two heavy Angara A5s and seven light Angara 1.2s. >> [music]