Russia will launch a spy satellite to monitor Ukraine
A new satellite that Russia is preparing to launch next week on behalf of Iran will greatly expand Tehran’s ability to monitor military targets in the Middle East. But first, Moscow intends to use the spacecraft to aid its own military operations in Ukraine.
This was reported by the Washington Post.
The Russian space agency “Roscosmos” announced August 9 as the launch date of the satellite, named “Khayyam” in honor of the Persian mathematician of the 12th century, in fulfillment of the agreement concluded with Iran four years ago.
Russia has agreed to build and operate the Canopus-V system, which will include a high-resolution camera that will provide Tehran with unprecedented capabilities, including near-continuous monitoring of critical sites in Israel and the Persian Gulf.
But Iran may not immediately take control of the satellite. Russia, which has struggled to achieve its military goals during its five-month offensive against Ukraine, has told Tehran it plans to use a satellite for months or longer to boost surveillance of military targets in the conflict, two officials said on condition of anonymity. citing the delicacy associated with intelligence gathering.
The Khayyam satellite will be launched by a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan. A Roscosmos statement confirmed that Tuesday’s launch would put “remote sensing equipment into orbit at the request of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The Biden administration is closely monitoring Iran’s satellite efforts, which are developing in parallel with Iran’s creation of a more powerful missile fleet.
The upcoming launch is the latest indicator of expanding military and political cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. The statement was made two weeks after Russian President Putin visited Tehran for meetings with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who later hailed his government’s “long-term cooperation” with Moscow.
