Tselina (satellite)

Tselina (Russian: Целина) were a series of military SIGINT satellites originally developed in the former Soviet Union and used in the past Russian military. These satellites could pinpoint the exact location of objects emitting radio signals. They could even identify the type of emitter, its operational modes, and its activity level. This function proved valuable for detecting potential military operations by monitoring increased radio communication activity. By providing early warning of such activity, Tselina offered valuable intel that might not have been obtainable through other means.^[1]