The launch of the Russian space system “Arktika” was postponed because of sanctions – RBC

Terms of creating and running a Russian space system “Arktika” suffered because of technological sanctions by the United States, he said in an interview with the newspaper “Izvestia” Sergei Lemeshevsky, CEO Lavochkin, which in 2012 won the contract for the creation of “Arctic”.

«Dates for” Arctic “was pushed us as we had to redo part of the equipment due to the sanctions. It is primarily a question of the payload, “- said Lemeshevsky.

According to him, in the tactical and technical assignment for” Arctic “is written, that the system should be substantially unified with the system” Electro “.

«Now we see that the first apparatus” Electro A “works, but it has comments. Therefore, we have significantly upgraded the “Electro L” number two. Similarly, we are “Arctic” decided to upgrade to avoid problems arising from the first apparatus “Electro L”. But the difference is that both devices “Electro L” manufactured by us using foreign components. Chinese ECB (electronic-component base) we do not use, so expect mainly on the Russian electronics industry, “- said General Director of Lavochkin

According to” Izvestia “, in October 2012, the Federal Space Agency has concluded with NGOs Lavochkin contract for production of the first phase of a multi-purpose space system “Arktika”, which will provide communications and constant monitoring in the polar regions and the Arctic Ocean. Term of performance of the contract – November 25, 2015. Later in the draft Federal Space Program for 2016-2025 years, new launch date of the first unit “Arctic” – in 2017.

As previously stated in an interview with RBC General Director of JSC “Information Satellite Systems” Nikolai Testoyedov most vulnerability to sanctions foreign electronic-component baza.vysshego quality level space-military [Space and military]. This radiation hardened components capable of operating in open space.

«Such elements, whether similar whether they are ordinary industrial products, there are not even ten times, a hundred times more expensive, because they require special selection of materials, technologies, and other special tests. They are now in Russia are denied access, most of them produced in the USA. Imported electronic-component base our satellites from 25 to 75% of radioactive elements precisely; military smaller, more commercial. Of this foreign electronic component base, the US is somewhere in 83-87%, “- said Testoyedov.