A Soyuz 2-1b/Fregat M rocket was launched from the Plesetsk launch site in Northern Russia at 2146 GMT on 16 June 2018. The Glonass M-59 satellite aboard, now dubbed Cosmos 2527 under the military designation system, was a Glonass navigation satellite which fits into the Russian equivalent of the US GSP navsat constellation. The Russian Ministry of Defence operates the Reshnetnev-built spacecraft but, like GPS, it also has wide-ranging civilian navigation and timing applications. The spacecraft was initially placed into Medium Earth Orbit at 19116 x 19155 km x 64.8 deg orbit which is close to its expected operating orbit. The satellite is expected to replace Cosmos 2458 in Plane 1 Slot 5 of the constellation.
Soyuz 2-1b/Fregat M launches Cosmos 2527 (Glonass M-59) Courtesy: Russian Ministry of Defence via Roscosmos
