The Roscosmos State Corporation has proposed expanding the range of frequencies for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles via low-orbit satellites of the Gonets system. The complex will allow Russian drones to operate over long distances – without cellular communication and beyond the line of sight.
Akim Ivkin, Head of the Federal Projects Implementation Department at JSC Satellite System Gonets, clarified that it is proposed to use frequencies in the P- (up to 1 GHz) and S-bands (2–4 GHz). These bands were assigned to Roscosmos but are not actually used.
The existing 5030–5091 MHz band has been allocated for drone control, but there is no operational satellite infrastructure in this range. Therefore, we propose to use the existing frequencies in the P and S-bands.
It should be noted that the Gonets satellite communication channel is designed for route correction, transmission of control data, and exchange of short messages. Until the end of 2025, Gonets is focused on developing unmanned transport control technologies.
In total, the system includes 18 satellites, providing communication throughout Russia, including the Arctic. A separate decision by the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) will be required to change the purpose of using radio frequencies.
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