"Doomsday sputnik": Russia said to launch new missile-attack warning satellite

After years of delay, Russia plans to deploy this year the first satellite of its new constellation replacing the space component of the early warning system, Russian media reported. It will also double as an emergency communication satellite. The satellite was developed for the military, so naturally little is known about it. Identified by disambiguation "product 14F142", it is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to Kommersant newspaper. The spacecraft will be the first in a constellation, aimed to replace the old Oko-1 early warning system, which allows Russia survey countries possessing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and detect possible launches. More

(Source: RT - Jul 20)