Russia plans to increase funding for the development of new Earth remote sensing (ERS) spacecraft. The materials for the draft federal budget for 2027–2029 provide for about 41.7 billion rubles for the creation of new satellite models.
The money will be allocated in stages. In 2027, 11.944 billion rubles are provided for the development of new ERS spacecraft, 13.591 billion in 2028, and 16.139 billion rubles in 2029. Thus, the annual funding for this area should grow by approximately 35% over three years.
At the same time, the specified 41.7 billion rubles relate specifically to the development of new models of spacecraft. Expenditures for their direct creation and launch are indicated separately in the budget materials.
Creation and launch of satellites will be paid for separately
In 2027, it is planned to allocate 2.66 billion rubles for the direct creation of ERS spacecraft. Another 3.82 billion rubles are provided for the purchase of remote sensing data for federal and regional authorities.
About 9.265 billion rubles are planned to be spent on launch vehicles in 2027–2029. This item includes rockets and related services necessary for launching spacecraft into orbit.
The materials for the draft budget, however, do not disclose the characteristics of future satellites. The published data does not contain information about their types, imaging equipment, spatial resolution, imaging frequency, or specific tasks for which the new spacecraft will be used.
Another 66.2 billion rubles will be allocated to the operational constellation
Separate funding is provided for the deployment and maintenance of the already operational ERS orbital constellation.
In 2027, 20.872 billion rubles are planned for these purposes. In 2028, funding should exceed 26.64 billion, and in 2029, it will amount to 18.7 billion rubles. In total, over three years, this amounts to about 66.2 billion rubles.
Remote sensing satellites obtain information about the Earth's surface using optical, radar, and other sensors. Such data is used for cartography, agriculture and forestry, natural resource control, monitoring of emergencies and infrastructure, as well as for monitoring ice conditions.