PLESETSK (Arkhangelsk region), August 27. /ITAR-TASS/. In a bid to reduce the dependence on imports, Russia’s Defense Ministry intends to withdraw the Rokot light space launch vehicles from use starting from 2016, Commander of the Aerospace Defense Forces Lieutenant General Alexander Golovko said on Wednesday.

“The launches of the Rokot carrier rockets today are carried out in the interests of the Defense Ministry within the Federal Space Program and international cooperation programs,” Golovko told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. “Four launches are planned in the interests of the Defense Ministry — three in 2015 and one — in 2016. In the future, the Defense Ministry will be able to use the light carrier rockets Soyuz 2.1v and Angara for its tasks,” Golovko said.

“Thus we will not depend on imports for light-class rockets,” said Shoigu who visited the Plesetsk cosmodrome during a working trip.