Russia launches military satellite

MOSCOW, March 30 (UPI) -- Russia has confirmed the launch Friday of a Cosmos class military satellite atop a Space Forces Proton-M carrier rocket.

"The rocket put the Cosmos-series military satellite into the designated orbit at 09:49 p.m. Moscow time (12:49 a.m. EDT)," Space Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Alexey Zolotukhin told RIA Novosti.

The launch was conducted by the Aerospace Defense Forces. Zolotukhin said.

Russia reportedly operates a constellation of 60-70 military satellites capable of reconnaissance, missile early warning and other operations.