Beskrivning : The lowest level of the three-tier communications satellite constellation is now populated with two distinct systems devoted to military and government communications. Both systems are assessed to be simple store-dump repeaters which were particularly useful in relaying non-essential traffic between the Russian Federation and overseas stations of forces. The first Strela (which means "Arrow" in Russian) system debuted in 1970 and consisted of 750 - 1000 kg satellites deployed at mean altitudes of 800 km in three orbital planes inclined 74 degrees to the equator and spaced 120 degrees apart.