The ICEYE-X36, built by Finnish company ICEYE, provides radar imagery to the Ukrainian military. Kosmos 2612 executed precise maneuvers to match the target's altitude of approximately 555 km, speed, and inclination of 97.8 degrees. Security experts and the Center for Strategic and International Studies warn the approach could allow Russia to jam data transmissions, physically inspect Western technology, or execute an anti-satellite attack.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Russian Satellite Moves Within 136 Meters of US Asset in First Uninvited LEO Encounter
War2 days ago
The Russian military spacecraft Kosmos 2612 has matched the orbital path of the ICEYE-X36 radar satellite, orbiting in a close formation that trackers describe as deliberate stalking. The craft moved to within 136 meters of the U.S.-registered asset, with tracking data predicting a closer pass of 48 meters on Monday. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell identified this as the first known case of an active satellite making an uninvited close approach to another active satellite in low Earth orbit.
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