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Russian inspector satellites
Illustration (artist impression) by The Adepti — not a photo; shape and proportions from public descriptions, details indicative
ASAT & counterspace

Russian inspector satellites

Nivelir programme (Kosmos series)
RU

Co-orbital shadowing — and possibly attack — of reconnaissance satellites

Small Russian satellites that place themselves in the orbit of American reconnaissance satellites. Russia calls them inspectors; the US and the UK regard them as co-orbital weapons since Kosmos 2543 released a projectile in 2020.

Learn more in the Space Academy →

Known cases

Kosmos 2542 / 2543
2019–2020; shadowed USA 245; 2543 released an object at high speed in Jul. 2020
Kosmos 2558
2022; in the orbit of USA 326
Kosmos 2576
2024; in the orbit of USA 314
Kosmos 2588
May 2025; in the orbital plane of USA 338 (confirmed by US Space Command)

Relevance

Analysis
Behaviour (approaches, released objects) can be measured; intent cannot

News archive 0

Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.

No reports linked yet.

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