AE001 RUSSIAN SPACE FORCES DEAR READERS: Now that the state has actively formulated and promoted a At the beginning of a new stage in strategic arms reduction, new set of concepts on safeguarding Russia's security, it is par- space systems provide a fundamental contribution to solving the ticularly vital to note developments in military theory and prac- problem of control over the observance of international treaties tice, which affect the most important strategic interests of our and agreements. country. Consequently, priority development of military space sys- Naturally, one such tendency involves a steady rise in the tems represents a vital and decisive factor for implementing the importance of military space systems for the preservation of basic principles of Russia's new military doctrine. stability and alignment of forces in the world, as has become Characteristically, the Russian Space Forces today are not clear in recent years. As the performance characteristics of mil- only constantly ready for combat use: from day to day and hour itary space systems improve, their contribution to the effective to hour they prepare launches of launch vehicles, carrying operations of the army and navy becomes more and more sig- spacecraft of military, economic, and scientific applications, nificant and in many cases decisive. and control orbital groupings. Space systems, which give a warning on a missile attack, Russian Space Forces were set up in August 1992 from the keep watch on ground, sea and space targets and territories, space units and formations of the Russian Ministry of Defense provide communication, combat control, navigation, hydrome- for purely defensive aims which boil down to the discharge of teorological, topogeodetical and cartographic support, have three main functions: warning about a threat of attack; support- already become an organic part of the army and navy and raise, ing operations of the army and navy; deterring aggression in according to expert estimates, their efficiency by 1.5-2 times. and from space. Without space systems it is impossible to realize the new quali- Over the past two years we have completed the formation of tative potential of the Armed Forces, such as mobility, flexibili- the Space Forces as a centrally subordinated service, formulat- ty, reliance of high-accuracy weapons, small size and economy. ed its objectives, planned and launched measures to maintain Vital importance is now attached to preventing a surprise and develop the space infrastructure. May Space Forces pre- attack. Space systems offer the most effective means for con- serve and multiply Russia's achievements in the field of military tinuously monitoring military preparations on a global scale, space technology and make a substantial contribution to safe- “Military Parade” • Electronintorg ltd. AVA Multimedia Publishing Group detecting an impending threat and quickly transmitting warning guarding the security of our country and strategic stability in the and troop control signals. world. ( OLEG LOBOV Secretary Security Council of the Russian Federation MILITARY PARADE 1994 SEPTEMBER C OCTOBER 1 AE002 RUSSIAN SPACE FORCES SPACE FORCES OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION $ Vladimir Ivanov $ Colonel General, Commander of the Space Forces of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Military Sciences The Space Forces play a key role in Russia's space activities. They deploy and maintain in regulation make-up and ser- viceable condition orbital groupings of space systems, which provide a strategic warning on the preparation and unleashing of aggression in different spheres of mili- tary confrontation, monitoring of compli- ance with the appropriate treaties and agreements and the creation of the requi- site conditions to achieve a new qualita- tive level of operational support for the troops. Vladimir Ivanov he reforms in the basis of the manpower and creation of the requisite condi- country and the resources of the Ministry of tions to achieve a new qualitative Armed Forces have Defense of the Russian level of operational support for significantly exacer- Federation. Their establishment the troops. These tasks cannot be bated the need to reflects the objective process of solved without the Space Forces, review the the growing influence of the entrusted with the entire potential approach adopted employment of space weapons on of launching systems and a con- to Armed Forces the preparation and conduct of siderably part of space vehicle building and, in armed struggle. control facilities. The space particular, establish The Space Forces play a key forces also carry out a set of within their struc- role in Russia's space activities. measures to ensure that Russia “Military Parade” • Electronintorg ltd. AVA Multimedia Publishing Group ture some military They deploy and maintain in reg- pursues an independent space formations respon- ulation make-up and serviceable policy. As the Space Forces are sible for the development and uti- condition orbital groupings of equipped with up-to-date, highly lization of space forces manpow- space systems, which provide a efficient space weapons, incorpo- erT and resources. A logical result strategic warning on the prepara- rating all the achievements of involved the establishment of the tion and unleashing of aggression modern science and technology, Space Forces as a centrally sub- in different spheres of military ground space infrastructure cre- ordinated arm of the Armed confrontation, monitoring of ated on Russian territory, and Forces. The Space Forces were compliance with the appropriate more than thirty years' space set up in August 1992 on the treaties and agreements and the experience, they can both solve MILITARY PARADE 1994 SEPTEMBER C OCTOBER 1 AE002 ВОЕННЫЙ ПАРАД trial and scientific organizations work under orders from the Space Forces, including such famous firms as the S.P. Korolev 'Energia' Research and Production Association (NPO), Central Engineering Research Institute, M.V. Khrunichev Space Research-and-Industrial Center, NPO Applied Mechanics, Elas Research and Production Corporation, Aerospace Corporation 'Polyot', Russian Institute of Radio Navigation and Time, Russian Space Instrument- Making Research Institute, Central Specialized Design Bureau, S.A. Lavochkin NPO, joint stock company MNIIRS, M.V. Frunze Design Bureau 'Arsenal,' 'Yuzhnoye' Design Bureau, GosTsNIRTI (Central State Rocketry Research Institute), Thermal Processes Research Institute, NPO 'Khartron,' General Engineering Design' Bureau, Khimavtomatika Design Bureau, NPO Measuring Equipment and NPO Machine- building. The Space Forces constitute the only formation in the CIS con- cerned with the placement of orders to manufacture space- craft, launch vehicles, boosters, spacecraft control-and-monitor- ing facilities and various equip- military tasks and play a direct pose space systems as well as ment to prepare and launch role in ensuring the implementa- the leading executor of all spacecraft at defense sector tion of the research and econom- Russian space programs and enterprises and accomplishes the ic plans of the Russian Federation international programs, carried tasks of preparing, launching and 1. and international space coopera- out in Russia. controlling spacecraft of all kinds The central command tion programs. The Space Forces incorporate of application orbited from cos- “Military Parade” • Electronintorg ltd. AVA Multimedia Publishing Group post of Russian At present the Space Forces three cosmodromes, Plesetsk, modromes located in Russia and are equipped with modern space Baikonur (in Kazakhstan) and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Space Forces systems, observation, early bal- Svobodny (under construction), Plesetsk Cosmodrome 2. listic missile launch warning, A.F. Mozhaisky Military Space This erstwhile secret facility The Soyuz launch command and communications, Engineering Academy (Order of of the Space Forces dates back vehicle at the Gagarin navigational, topogeodesy, mete- the Red Banner), the main test to 1957. Within a short time, orology complexes and space- and control center, the Central launching complexes and many launch complex of craft launch and control systems. Research Institute, and logistic infrastructural facilities were built cosmodrome They constitute the main cus- units. for the first three combat units. Baikonur tomer for military and dual pur- A significant number of indus- The cosmodrome is used to MILITARY PARADE 1994 SEPTEMBER C OCTOBER 2 AE002 RUSSIAN SPACE FORCES plexes and three filling stations During a visit to for the preparation and launch of Blagoveshchensk, President launch vehicles, as well as Boris Yeltsin backed the idea of world's largest oxygen and nitro- creating a new space harbor in gen plant. Amur Region. Svobodny Cosmodrome At present the Space Forces The main facilities of the cos- utilize an extensive fleet of light, modrome will be located in medium and heavy class rockets, Svobodny district, Amur Region, capable of orbiting payloads of Khabarovsk Territory, lat. 51° 40' military, scientific and economic and 50° N; long. 128°-128° 30' E. application. The geographic location of Automated Ground Control the new Russian cosmodrome, Complex optimally approximated to the Control of both military and equator, is economically expedi- civilian spacecraft in all stages of ent, when injecting a payload into flight, and guaranteed reception working orbit. The presence of a from the spacecraft and distribu- developed infrastructure enables tion to users