A Proton rocket took off last night from Baikonur, carrying the Luch-Olymp K2 satellite into orbit… A special kind of spy, whose predecessor has caused much ink to flow. While the defense in orbit is topical, here is a vehicle which will be observed with great attention !
Despite the discretions of Russia.
Russia receives a new asset
It is a new relay satellite, soberly indicate the Russian press releases, when they take the trouble to detail the role of Luch-Olymp K2. According to its “official” designation, Luch-5X would indeed be a geostationary relay satellite, capable of transmitting signals from satellites in low orbit to fixed reception stations. But here is a secret that is not a secret: it is indeed the second Luch-Olymp satellite, whose specialty is to come and “browse” or “sniff” data near other units in geostationary orbit, at 35,750 km above sea level. The takeoff took place on the night of March 12 to 13, 2023 in Baikonur, thanks to a Proton rocket which perfectly fulfilled its role for this 4e Russian launch of the year. A take-off in the greatest discretion, with no photography broadcast, either for the arrival at the launch site or for the launch itself, the shots appearing in the official announcements being linked to old campaigns.
It’s not going to please everyone
But then, what is a “browser” satellite? Far from a rural image, this is indeed a very special kind of espionage. First, these units have increased maneuvering capabilities, and what to perceive their close environment (radar, precision imager, other) to be able to travel and drift slowly near this belt of satellites that forms the geostationary orbit on the terrestrial equator. They are said to forage, as they go from one communication satellite to another, at proximity which sometimes triggers diplomatic recriminations. The objective is simple: with its antennas, a satellite like Luch-Olymp K2 is able to intercept the rising and falling signals of its target, and potentially mask or jam them.
Few means against browsers
The first Luch-Olymp satellite, launched in 2014, has become the bane of Western satellite operators and even various military entities. We will remember the strong statements made by Minister Florence Parly in 2018, who showed the approach of this satellite which had come to “forage” very close to Athena-Fidus, a Franco-Italian satellite dedicated to secure communications. This had been used as an argument during the creation of the new merged command which became the Air and Space Force… while “foraging” techniques are pivotal in military exercises such as AsterX. Here then is the successor to Luch-Olymp arriving in orbit. There are more and more means to detect and track it, but the famous small zone defender satellites specially designed to fight against this threat, French in particular, are still waiting. Other nations could already have their own “browsers” in orbit, even if they are perhaps more discreet: China and the United States in the lead…
Source : The gallery
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