A Russian Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket laden with two defense satellites was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the country's northwest on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

It is the second launch of Soyuz-2.1b since late December 2013.

"A new Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with two spacecraft in the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry was launched from the Aerospace Forces' Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 5:09 p.m. [14:09 GMT]," the Defense Ministry's press service said.

The Volga booster with two defense satellites successfully separated from the second stage of the rocket carrier, the press service added.

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Russia, Kazakhstan to Build Common Aerospace Defense System
Moscow and Astana have agreed the terms of Russia's use of a Kazakh radio communications center as part of Russia's ballistic missile early warning system, media reports said on Saturday.

The head of the Defense Ministry's international cooperation department, Sergei Koshelev, said the measure would enhance Russia's defense capability and help build a unified regional air and missile defense system.

"It will also give boost to the mutually-beneficial defense cooperation between our two countries," Koshelev added.

The Balkhash radio communications facility is an important element of Russia's ballistic missile early warning system, which ensures the security of all members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Armenia and Tajikistan.

The Dnepr long-distance radar, which is part of the Balkhash facility, provides round-the clock observation of outer space and registers ballistic missile launches in the entire southeastern collective security region.

Russia has long been leading efforts to build a joint air defense shield for the CIS, a loose organization of former Soviet republics.

Source: Sputnik News