At least four Russian military satellites have changed their orbits to match that of a Finnish-American radar surveillance satellite, ICEYE-X36, operated by ICEYE. The maneuvers, identified through open source orbital tracking data, were revealed by retired Air Force space intelligence officer Greg Gillinger.
The Russian satellites, designated Kosmos 2610 through 2613, launched together on April 16 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome. They adjusted their orbital inclinations by less than a degree, a fuel-intensive maneuver equivalent to raising altitude by over 100 miles. They are now positioned within 500 meters to 22 kilometers of ICEYE-X36, in polar orbit at about 340 miles altitude.
ICEYE provides all-weather radar imagery to the US military, European governments, and Ukraine. CEO Rafal Modrzewski met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year.
Gillinger noted that plane matching is the first step toward rendezvous proximity operations, potentially for kinetic or non-kinetic targeting. A fifth Russian satellite from the same launch is also maneuvering closer.
US officials believe some Russian satellites are part of an anti-satellite weapons program. Targeting a single ICEYE satellite would do little to hinder Ukraine's access to radar imagery, as ICEYE operates dozens more.
ICEYE did not respond to requests for comment. The company expanded its partnership with Ukraine in January.