Article Posted on : - Apr 17, 2010

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia has launched a military satellite, the first this year on Friday, from the Plesetsk space center in northwest Russia, the Defense Ministry said.

Russian news agency Ria Novosti, on Friday quoting spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin said, a Soyuz-U carrier rocket with the satellite lifted off at 7:00 p.m. Moscow time (15:00 GMT).

Russia has in its possession 60-70 military satellites with reconnaissance, missile early warning and other capabilities, the report said.

In order to reduce Moscow's dependence on Baikonur, the main launch facility rented in Kazakhstan, Russia would be using new-generation Angara-class carrier rockets for launches from Plesetsk for the current generation of Russian rockets, military officials said.