Russia successfully launched a Soyuz 2-1A/Fregat vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia at 0700 GMT on 5 February 2022. The launch vehicle carried a satellite codenamed Cosmos 2553. This is believed to be the first Neitron, a new type of radar reconnaissance satellite which is part of the military reconnaissance Liana programme – a system using space, air and ground assets for tracking and targeting battle groups. The satellite was delivered by a single burn of the Fregat upper stage into 1994 x 1987 km orbit at a 67.1 degree inclination. This places it within the Van Allen radiation belts. Russian news sources indicate that the military spacecraft will also measure radiation and charged particles using onboard instruments. The spacecraft is reported to have been built by NPO Mashinostroyenia.
