The Angara rocket family’s entire production should be consolidated in Omsk, a topic that has quietly influenced Russia’s launch vehicle program for over a decade. Russia’s space industry is once again debating this issue. In late January 2026, reports surfaced that Roscosmos has reactivated its intention to finalize the long-debated transfer of manufacturing from Moscow to the Polyot Production Association in Omsk. This decision would represent an important step toward the consolidation of Russia’s rocket industry into a singular, modernized manufacturing hub if implemented.
Polyot is currently in the process of assembling the light Angara-1.2 launch vehicle and manufacturing the second stage of the heavier Angara A5. The remaining components, including payload fairings, upper stages, and certain specialized systems, are still connected to Moscow facilities. The rekindled dialogue indicates that Roscosmos now believes the moment is opportune to finalize the transition.
The Strategic Role of the Angara Program
As a response to several longstanding problems, the Angara family formed in the post-Soviet era. It was intended to replace outdated rockets, decrease dependence on toxic propellants, and guarantee that Russia could launch payloads from its own territory rather than relying on foreign sites. Angara has undergone a progressive transformation from a development program to a critical component of Russia’s future launch strategy over the years.
The Angara-1.2, a lightweight variant, and the Angara A5, a heavier variant, are both in serial production by early 2026. The first operational missions of an upgraded A5M version are imminent, and a more powerful A5V configuration, which includes a hydrogen upper stage, is expected for the end of the decade. These vehicles are designed to accommodate a diverse array of missions, including routine satellite launches, heavier national security payloads, and deep-space payloads.
Industrial organization has an equal importance to engineering in the success of such a program. This is the point at which the issue of Omsk versus Moscow becomes critical.
Why Moscow Became a Bottleneck
Historically, the Khrunichev Center in Moscow, a legendary enterprise with origins in the Soviet era, was the site of an important portion of Angara production. Although the center continues to be a critical node for design and engineering, its location in western Russia is complicating the logistics of a launch program that is shifting to the east.
Currently, rocket stages that are assembled in Omsk are transported to Moscow for the integration of specific components. Afterward, they are transported to either the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the north or the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the east. This zigzag path increases the cost, labor, and risk of each launch campaign. With the increasing frequency of Angara flights, particularly those launching from Vostochny, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify such inefficiencies.
The maintenance of major production lines in both Moscow and Omsk duplicates infrastructure and personnel costs from a strictly industrial perspective. The leadership of Roscosmos has consistently maintained that this division undermines the economics of serial production.
Omsk’s Growing Role in Angara Manufacturing
For years, Omsk’s Polyot facility has been discreetly preparing for a more significant role. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, major investments were made to modernize the workshops, implement new tooling, and train personnel specifically for Angara production. The purpose of these improvements was not merely cosmetic; they were designed to enable Polyot to manage intricate, high-precision assemblies on a serial schedule.
Consequently, Omsk is no longer just a secondary assembly site. It has evolved into a central manufacturing facility that is capable of producing complete rocket stages that meet flight standards. The second stage of the heavy A5 has followed the same path, and the light Angara-1.2 is already built from start to finish. Roscosmos officials have stated that these procedures were intentionally implemented to verify Omsk’s readiness ahead of the relocation of more critical components.
The renewed effort in 2026 appears to be more credible than previous proposals due to this gradual expansion. The industrial foundation has been substantially established.
The Eastward Shift, Geography, and Logistics
Geography is one of the most compelling justifications in favor of Omsk’s consolidation. Omsk is located in southwestern Siberia, which is substantially closer to the Far East than Moscow. This results in simplified logistics and shorter transport routes for missiles that are intended for Vostochny.
Vostochny is a critical component of Russia’s long-term space ambitions. It is expected that the proportion of Angara launches will increase in the coming years, as it is designed to reduce dependence on older sites and to serve both civilian and military missions. It is logical to continue to align production with this eastward focus.
A centralized production flow can be optimized more readily than a fragmented one, even for launches from Plesetsk, which remains crucial for military missions. Consistency is paramount: a single factory, a single set of processes, and a single logistics chain.
Cost reduction as a strategic imperative
Angara’s Achilles’ heel has consistently been cost. For many years, critics contended that the rocket was excessively costly in comparison to its foreign competitors and even Russia’s older launchers. Roscosmos has publicly acknowledged this issue, attributing it to inefficient industrial organization and low production rates.
The reduction of unit costs is perceived as a significant benefit of consolidating production in Omsk. As launch rates increase, a single production site enables more efficient workflows, reduced transportation expenses, and improved economies of scale. According to officials, the relocation of the remaining components from Moscow could considerably reduce the cost per launch, thereby bringing Angara closer to its intended economic objectives.
In this context, the transfer is not simply an administrative decision; it is essential for the commercial and strategic viability of Angara.
What remains to be relocated?
A comprehensive transfer has not yet been completed, despite the progress that has been made. Payload fairings, specialized systems, and certain upper stages are still manufactured or integrated in Moscow. In order to be relocated safely, these components necessitate additional tooling, testing infrastructure, and certification processes.
Representatives of Roscosmos have stated that the current issue is one of timing rather than principle. The remaining stages entail the coordination of investments, the retraining of staff, and the preservation of quality control standards during the transition. They assert that the primary objective is to prevent any disruptions to the current launch schedules during the finalization of the relocation.
Political and Regional Aspects
Regional significance is also attached to the transfer. Omsk’s status as a significant aerospace hub would be solidified and thousands of high-skill jobs would be secured by becoming the Angara family’s only production center. The prospect has been warmly received by local authorities, who have characterized it as a social and industrial investment.
The action is consistent with broader attempts to redistribute high-tech manufacturing beyond Moscow at the federal level. Concentrating production in regions with robust industrial traditions and lower operating costs is increasingly perceived as a means of enhancing national resilience.
Implications for Future Angara Variants
In the future, the decision to centralize production in Omsk will influence the development and manufacturing of future Angara variants. New demands will be placed on manufacturing facilities by the upgraded A5M and the planned A5V, which will feature a hydrogen upper stage. Specialized handling and testing capabilities are particularly necessary for hydrogen systems.
Omsk will serve as the focal point for these technological developments if it is designated as the only production site. This increases the importance of the transfer: success would serve as evidence that Polyot is capable of managing not only current production but also the next generation of Angara technology.
In summary, it appears that a transfer is imminent
The complete transfer of Angara rocket production to Omsk is imminent as of early 2026. It appears that what was once a distant ambition is now on the brink of becoming a reality. The industrial foundation in Omsk has been modernized, and the strategic logic—economic, political, and logistical—has only grown stronger. Partial relocation has already been proven to be feasible.
Although obstacles persist, particularly in the relocation of the final components and the preservation of uninterrupted launch schedules, Roscosmos’ renewed initiative implies that these challenges are no longer perceived as significant. Omsk will soon be the focal point of Russia’s Angara program, influencing the country’s access to space well into the 2030s if the plan is implemented as intended.