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How many satellites does Russia have?

As of October 17, 2026, Russia owns 375 active satellites, 2.2% of the world's 17,101 and the 4th most of any country. The biggest single group is Kosmos, with 116 satellites (31% of the total).

375

Active satellites

2.2%

Of the world total

4th

Rank among countries

Launches in 2025

A Soyuz spacecraft approaching the International Space Station above Earth's clouds — A Russian Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft approaches the International Space Station on November 24, 2014. Photo: NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore.

What they do

Communications accounts for 167 of Russia's active satellites (45%).

Communications167 (44.5%)
Technology demonstration50 (13.3%)
Earth imaging50 (13.3%)
Navigation35 (9.3%)
Science18 (4.8%)
Weather13 (3.5%)

Where they orbit

Lower low Earth orbit (80 to 600 km)223 (59.5%)
Upper low Earth orbit (600 to 2,000 km)76 (20.3%)
Medium Earth orbit34 (9.1%)
Geosynchronous orbit31 (8.3%)
Highly elliptical orbit10 (2.7%)

Who operates them

The largest operators, and the largest families of satellites, owned by Russia.

By operator

VVKO VKS48 (12.8%)
Sitronics47 (12.5%)
Byuro 144037 (9.9%)
MO RF17 (4.5%)
VVKOV/IACG16 (4.3%)
Gonets15 (4.0%)

By satellite family

Kosmos116 (30.9%)
SITRO39 (10.4%)
Rassvet38 (10.1%)
Gonets15 (4.0%)
Ekspress11 (2.9%)

Operator names are as written in GCAT, usually transliterated from the original language. Families group satellites by the first word of their name.

How the fleet has grown

At the end of 2005, Russia had 288 payloads in Earth orbit. By the end of 2025 it had 684.

Payloads owned by Russia in Earth orbit at the end of each year, working or not.

Launches

Russia has made 900 orbital launch attempts since its first in 1992, and 17 of them in 2025. Its busiest year was 1992 with 55. The Soviet Union made another 2,457 before 1992, which GCAT counts separately.

Orbital launch attempts by Russia each year. 2026 is partial, through October 16.

Sources and method

GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0. Updated October 17, 2026. Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat).
Active means GCAT lists the satellite as working or possibly still transmitting, a status GCAT says is often a guess. Ownership is by the owner's country, not the launch country.