The company "Sputnix", part of AFK Sistema, has begun developing new optical and radar satellites with an accuracy of up to 0.5 m per pixel. The cost of the constellation may exceed 20 billion rubles, with the main customer being the Russian state.
The satellites will operate in orbit at 500–600 km, providing round-the-clock monitoring, including for the Northern Sea Route. The company plans to create seven radar satellites and provide data from 2027. Sputnix intends to sell not the devices themselves, but Earth remote sensing services.
The company also focuses on the international market, where competition is conducted with American and Chinese operators. Similar projects are being implemented by the private corporation "New Cosmos", which is also developing a radar satellite with a resolution of about 0.5 m.
The cost of developing one satellite with a resolution of 0.5 m in Russia can reach up to $20 million, and full entry into the domestic Earth remote sensing market is expected within 7 years with a possible volume of about 20-30 billion rubles annually.
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