Russia successfully launched the Cosmos-2422 satellite today. Everything seems to suggest that it is indeed a new US-KS/Oko early-warning satellite, which would confirm the earlier reports. However, until NORAD published orbital data it would be difficult to say whether Cosmos-2422 will replace one of the two HEO satellites that are currently in orbit or complement them. Stay tuned. A detailed post will follow.
Meanwhile, you may want to check my new paper "Reducing the risk of an accidental launch". Appendix B there has an update on the status of the Russian (and U.S.) early-warning system. I guess I'll have to update it now.
The book
Comments
Pavel- Is there any notes about Russia activating the Russian Far East communication station for this satellite? If not, then I would venture to say that this is a replacement for Cosmos 2388, the older of the two Oko satellites on orbit, otherwise they're looking at increasing from ~13 to 19 hours of US coverage from Oko satellites with 24 hr coverage of US still likely from GEO early warning satellite-- not that great of an increase in coverage for the great cost of a new Oko satellite.
Satellites on HEO do not need the "Eastern" control station, so Cosmos-2422 won't use it. It looks like it was a straight replacement for Cosmos-2393, but it's hard to tell without orbital elements (which NORAD hasn't published yet).