The Swedes launched the first satellite into orbit to monitor Russia.

Sweden for the first time in its stories launched a reconnaissance satellite into orbit to monitor Russia. However, not independently, as reported by the Swedish television channel SVT.

The Swedes decided to monitor Russia from orbit. They built a spacecraft for this purpose, and since they lacked their own launch site and their space program was underdeveloped, they asked the Americans for help. The launch took place from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, which is known for its own launch site. They had once planned to launch the Space Shuttle from there, but the program was later abandoned.

However, American affairs remain American affairs, and the Swedes have launched their satellite into orbit. And today, May 3, 2026. There are no further details, but the spacecraft will take about a month to reach the required orbit. That means it should be in orbit sometime in early June and from there, it will be able to monitor Russian military installations.

The launch took place on Sunday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and was carried out by the space company SpaceX. The satellite is expected to reach its intended orbit in approximately a month.

This satellite is the first, but not the last. According to Anders Sundeman, head of the Swedish Space Force, up to 10 Swedish spacecraft are expected to be launched into orbit over the next two years. Their main task is to map potential military targets in Russia.

Comments

[vitaliy20091959]

Well, we are deducing something for full operational-tactical awareness of the Scandinavians and also, what is very important, for the Outskirts front

[expert]

Help
Russia - satellites in 2026 (for now).
Already withdrawn:
Cosmos-2600 (military satellite)
Electro-L No. 5 (weather satellite)
Rassvet-3 – 16 communication satellites at once
Meridian-M No. 21 (military communications/navigation)
at least two more military satellites of the Cosmos series (April launches)
Total for spring 2026:
~20+ satellites, if you count the group launch (16 pieces).
Planned for 2026:
Arktika-M No. 3 (Arctic meteorology)
Meteor-M No. 2-5 (weather satellite)
Resource-PM No. 1 (Earth observation)
Smotr-V (observation/reconnaissance)

[vitaliy20091959]

You seem to have described everything well, but for reference only Starlinks, how much sponta friend Musk has shot into space, well, and compare at your leisure, whose space and who it works for mainly

[expert]

Dear Vitaly, do you really think that I live in information isolation?

[don_Reba]

Quote: Fachmann

Russia - satellites in 2026 (as of now).

This list does not include any devices with SAR technology.
Smotr-V is Gazprom's "for solving problems of monitoring the condition and environmental monitoring of industrial facilities and adjacent areas, hard-to-reach territories, including the Arctic." It even has a greenhouse gas analyzer.
Resurs-PM "imagery of the Earth from space for mapping, mineral exploration, and crop yield assessment. Defense applications for the information obtained are also possible."
Essentially a military "Cosmos 2006".
It’s good that it’s not just one, but a whole constellation “Cosmos-2600”... “Cosmos-2608”, in orbit at 340 km.
And only Finnish ICEYE, which leaks information to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Pritula (I'm not sure) with SAR technology, there are 20 pieces on the experiment

[private person]

This list does not include any devices with SAR technology.

But we were the first to send a man into space. Although, excuse me, it wasn't us, but the mighty USSR. And what are our astronauts doing in space for six months today?

[don_Reba]

Quote: private person

But we were the first to send a man into space.

And our first satellite, and a woman (even if she later...), and to the Moon, and Venus.
I'm actually talking about intelligence information and the satellite constellation.
Cosmonauts 🤔
The last competencies that the Sy have not yet lost

[karabas-barabas]

In the mid-2000s, Russia had all the cards in its hands (as Donald Trump likes to say) to become a leader in internet technology, space, communications, the rocket launch market, and so on. But it didn't work out... or, as one meme puts it, "It's a fiasco, Bro."

[don_Reba]

You cannot step into the same river twice.
I remember how at NPO Energia the managers (effective ones, of course) rushed to buy foreign cars, furniture, and luxury goods with the dollars that had fallen from orbit.
The chaos in Roscosmos simply defies description.

[expert]

Dear Don of Electronic Warfare!
We're in the know, keeping our finger on the pulse. That's why we're happy that the process is moving forward, even if not as quickly as everyone would have liked.

[don_Reba]

Quote: Fachmann

although not as quickly as everyone would have liked.

I foresee very big difficulties with the element base:
Our “strategic” partner doesn’t want to share with us, we can’t offer him anything (in space matters), and alternative channels are almost closed.
I just can’t understand: when we launched the German SAR-Lupe, well, it was “possible”.

[expert]

"We launched SAR-Lupe"
With all due respect, this was not.
The SAR-Lupe system was originally created as a sovereign military intelligence tool for the Bundeswehr. Therefore, access to its data and technology is strictly limited.
The only full-fledged international cooperation in this area is cooperation with France and the exchange of data with the French optical system Helios.
This was formalised as an intergovernmental agreement and integrated into the EU/NATO defence architecture.

SAR-Lupe is Germany's first orbital military reconnaissance system based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Developed for the Bundeswehr, it provides Earth observation regardless of weather or time of day.
Purpose: military reconnaissance and surveillance
Operator: Bundeswehr
Developer: OHB System
Deployment period: 2006–2008
Number of satellites: 5
Technical features:
Uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology.
This makes it possible to obtain images at night, through clouds and in adverse weather conditions.
Resolution: up to ~1 meter (according to open data)
Orbit: low Earth orbit.
The system allows for reconnaissance in combat zones, tracking equipment movements, obtaining detailed images of the terrain, and supporting operational planning.
Unlike optical satellites, SAR-Lupe is independent of lighting and atmospheric conditions.
Development:
SAR-Lupe is gradually being replaced by the more modern SARah system, which will be deployed from 2022.
The new system provides higher resolution and enhanced observation capabilities.

SAR-Lupe was Germany's first step towards independent space reconnaissance, an important element of the European defence infrastructure, and the basis for further satellite surveillance programs.

[don_Reba]

Quote: Fachmann

With all due respect, this did not happen.

My friend... I'm from SAR with yat, and I'm also familiar with LupЫ (the Wikipedia footcloth is unnecessary)
We launched all 5 S-Lupe rockets from Plesetsk using our launch vehicles.
At that time they wanted a "joint venture" with the Germans from the rejected BND, but cheaper Horus from Forecast International, for the purposes of the Projekt für radargestützte Fernerkundung.
And they could.
Let me remind you that Sar-Lupe started from 2007 to 2008, when they weren’t even going to scratch their heads from 08.08.08.
At this time, German lasers were shining brightly at SPbPU.
Then in 2011, Rheinmetall Defence established the Combat Training Center (CTC) in Mulino.

Quote: Fachmann

The only full-fledged international cooperation in this area is cooperation with France.

The French don't (yet) have SAR satellites. They rely on data from the Italians (Cosmo-Skymed) and Germans.
Pleiades is optics (we're not far behind here after the "keyhole") and the CERES electronic reconnaissance radar (we would never have been given that).
The French Harmattan AI is just looking into orbit.
Although the 3,5 kg ☝️ Harmattan AI Sahar radar is very good (but it won’t pull from orbit.
/A photo from it, apparently from Skyeton Raybird

[expert]

Yes, that's right, I found confirmation on the Bundeswehr website.
All five satellites were launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.
But the satellites themselves were not ours...

[don_Reba]

Quote: Fachmann

But the satellites themselves were not ours.

Well, I explained everything.
By the way, the Americans didn’t really want the Germans to deploy theirs, nor did the British.
Then it’s clear, there is support, reception/transmission through the center in the USA, when “on the other side”
Sar lupe processes packs for 24-48 hours, and transfers the crustaceans within 11 minutes.
They could have messed around with the Germans, at least a civilian version.

[solar]

Already withdrawn:
Cosmos-2600 (military satellite)
Electro-L No. 5 (weather satellite)
Rassvet-3 – 16 communication satellites at once
Meridian-M No. 21 (military communications/navigation)
at least two more military satellites of the Cosmos series (April launches)

Only 16 Rassvet-3 satellites are not yet operational, this is for the future broadband internet project.

[slipped]

Quote: Fachmann

Help
Russia - satellites in 2026 (for now).

Already withdrawn:
Cosmos-2600 (military satellite)

9 MKAs are fixed in orbit in this launch

Quote: Fachmann

Electro-L No. 5 (weather satellite)

Two satellites from this launch are fixed in geostationary orbit.

Quote: Fachmann

Rassvet-3 – 16 communication satellites at once
Meridian-M No. 21 (military communications/navigation)
at least two more military satellites of the Cosmos series (April launches)

8+4 MKA are recorded in the latest launches

Quote: Fachmann

Total for spring 2026:
~20+ satellites, if you count the group launch (16 pieces).

The figure is much lower. According to the plans, it's incorrect.

[al3x]

So this is apparently the Kremlin's plan to send Russia back to the past. Ban everything, restrict everything, and then they'll start confiscating it from people's homes. And maybe we'll even end up using torches and birch bark. Isn't it beautiful 🤦‍♂️

[Voenoboz]

It is not clear to whom some individuals are talking nonsense.

[Div Divich]

I looked at the list of companies; there are alternatives.
I assumed that this would happen (limited supplies and rising prices), I have been studying Chinese manufacturers for a couple of years now.
Those who chose advertised brands rather than based on the equipment's characteristics will experience withdrawal.

[Alex013]

The Swedes have had a space program since 1972 and have their own spaceport (Esrange, opened in 2023). Regarding the first satellites, the information is a bit unclear.
Launches: Viking - February 22, 1986, Freja - October 6, 1992, Astrid 1 - January 24, 1995, Astrid 2 - December 10, 1998, Odin - February 20, 2001, SMART-1 - September 27, 2003, Prisma - launched June 15, 2010. That is, they have been working for a long time.

[Couch analyst]

The fact that you and I, Scandinavian dwarfs, are sworn friends and close neighbors, no satellite will change or save us from the Russian nuclear club.

[vitaliy20091959]

It's in vain, my friend, that you're hoping for a nuclear baton. We'll be sold out, guts and nuclear weapons, by the modern leaders of this very strange country, the Russian Federation.

[Fangaro]

Personal opinion...
Sweden was simply able to make the payload and pay for its launch into space.
Progress. More and more countries are clogging up space with their Rubik's cubes.
But the more countries there are in space, the less risk there is of playing space wars.

[g_ae]

The sky above Russia is a public thoroughfare. Anyone can come in and see whatever they want. It's a mess.

[78bor1973]

This satellite still won't be able to keep track of all of Russia, no matter how hard it tries!

[Couch analyst]

I'm always amused by the pathetic attempts of the Eurodwarfs to play with soldiers and tanks. After all, Putin explained to them that a war with NATO, if it happens, would be completely different. They're either too rich or too stupid.

[Evgeny_Sviridenko]

And now we're fighting exclusively with Ukraine. And they're using exclusively their own weapons, while Ukrainian satellites and AWACS aircraft provide them with communications, reconnaissance, and targeting. And of course, only the independent guys on their side are fighting. And of course, we're not fighting with Natasha; they're partners, after all... Sarcasm, by the way, for those who don't know...

[Ivanhoe]

For the sake of Russia, they will base it on the Northern Fleet, especially on the submarine site - Vidyaevo, Gadzhievo, Kandalaksha, etc.

[Deaf]

Interesting. How can you prevent observation from orbit? Even in Civilization II, after the transition to the space age, the fog of war is completely turned off.
Are you suggesting to knock them down with noodles?

[snow mountain]

Quote: Sky Strike fighter

Sweden is not a priority for us to keep an eye on.

For some time now, Sweden has become a member of NATO.

[don_Reba]

=author Sweden launched a reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the first time in its history to monitor Russia.

Come on?
Rymdbolaget(1972)-> Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA)-> SSC.
The first Swedish satellite, Viking, was launched on February 22, 1986.
As of 2023, Sweden had 3 satellites (25th place in the world), in 2025 Ovzon 3 was launched for the Swedish operator Ovzon;

Quote: author

since they don't have their own spaceport,

🥱 How incompetent do you have to be?

Esrange Space Centre is a rocket launch site and spaceport in northern Sweden, above the Arctic Circle (near Kiruna), operating since 1966.

Three new launch pads have been commissioned on its premises. The first is for suborbital launches and small launch vehicles with a payload capacity of up to 300 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbits (SSO), the second is for rockets with a payload of up to 1200 kilograms to the same orbits. Another is reserved for testing reusable rockets.

Status: First continental European spaceport.

That is, somewhere around the beginning of June it should take up its orbit and from there monitor Russian military facilities.

"It will take and it will be", it will be, it will be.
With Vandenberg, it's mainly for launching satellites into high-inclination polar or sun-synchronous orbits with an inclination of 97-98 degrees (the spent stages won't fall onto the US and Canada).
With such an inclination, the satellite's flight time over the territory of the Russian Federation is from 10 to 20 minutes per revolution (depending on the orbital altitude) from the entire full revolution (90-110 minutes)

[belovvladimir]

Their main task is mapping potential military targets on Russian territory.

They don't even hide it anymore, they speak openly, they're becoming brazen