International Launch Services
International Launch Services is a US-based, Khrunichev-owned commercial broker that markets Russian Proton and Angara launch vehicles to global satellite operators and government agencies, providing full mission management from contract through on-orbit delivery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersReston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What International Launch Services does
International Launch Services (ILS) is a US-incorporated, privately held commercial launch services provider headquartered in Reston, Virginia, founded in 1995 as a joint venture between Lockheed Martin, Khrunichev, and RSC Energia. The company markets and manages the commercial sale of Russian-manufactured launch vehicles — primarily the Proton Breeze M heavy-lift vehicle (capable of delivering approximately 6.27 metric tons to GTO using a five-burn Breeze M upper stage) and the Angara 1.2 medium-lift vehicle (3 metric tons to LEO, 3.5 metric tons to SSO) — both built by majority shareholder Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. ILS is not the manufacturer; it acts as the exclusive global commercial channel, providing mission integration, scheduling, launch coordination, and post-flight support from contract signing through on-orbit delivery, with launches conducted from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) and Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Russia).
ILS generates revenue on a transaction-fee basis, earning a margin on each commercial launch it brokers rather than owning the launch vehicles or infrastructure. Its customer base is concentrated among global commercial satellite operators (Eutelsat, SES, Intelsat, Inmarsat), satellite manufacturers and servicing providers (Northrop Grumman, SpaceLogistics), and government customers (KARI, Russian Government). The company has executed 97 commercial Proton missions with a 100% mission success rate over the seven years preceding 2023. As of January 2023, the company underwent leadership transition and business restructuring in response to geopolitical constraints, with management signaling intent to preserve readiness for re-engagement of Western commercial demand when conditions allow.
International Launch Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Launch Services
- Legal name
- International Launch Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://ilslaunch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- International Launch Services is a US-based, Khrunichev-owned commercial broker that markets Russian Proton and Angara launch vehicles to global satellite operators and government agencies, providing full mission management from contract through on-orbit delivery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International Launch Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Launch Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
Keywords
Where International Launch Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
International Launch Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Launch Services: ILS generates revenue through providing launch services for satellite operators, offering complete services from contract management through mission management and on-orbit delivery. Revenue is transaction-based, generated from each satellite launch mission.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
International Launch Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
International Launch Services provides commercial launch services for global satellite operators and governments using Russian-manufactured Proton Breeze M and Angara 1.2 launch vehicles built by Khrunichev. The company delivers end-to-end mission management from contract signing through on-orbit delivery, with dedicated account teams providing tailored launch solutions for communications, broadcasting, Earth observation, and government satellite missions. Services include mission integration, scheduling, launch coordination, and post-launch monitoring from Baikonur and Plesetsk cosmodromes.
Product overview
International Launch Services (ILS) provides commercial satellite launch services through a portfolio of Russian-built launch vehicles. The core offerings consist of the Proton Breeze M heavy-lift vehicle (6.27 metric tons to GTO) and the Angara 1.2 medium-lift vehicle (3-3.5 metric tons to LEO/SSO), both manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. ILS markets these vehicles globally to commercial and governmental satellite operators, offering comprehensive mission management services from contract signing through on-orbit delivery. The company also provides technical documentation including the Proton Mission Planner's Guide. With over 25 years of experience, ILS supports launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Proton) and Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Angara).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Proton Breeze M Launch Service Heavy-lift commercial launch service using the Proton Breeze M launch vehicle, a three-stage Proton rocket with a restartable Breeze M upper stage manufactured by Khrunichev. Provides 6.27 metric tons to GTO and 6.47 metric tons to reference SSTO performance using a five-burn Breeze M mission design. Designed for global commercial satellite operators and government agencies deploying communications, broadcasting, and heavy satellites to LEO, MEO, HEO, GTO, GSO, and SSTO orbits.
- Angara 1.2 Launch Service
- Proton Medium Launch Service A variant of the Proton launch vehicle family offered for medium-class payload missions. Marketed to commercial and governmental customers requiring Proton-family reliability for mid-weight satellite deployments.
- Mission Control Services End-to-end mission management and monitoring services covering mission inception through liftoff and post-launch activities. Includes dedicated account teams providing mission integration, scheduling, launch coordination, and mission-specific launch program management for each customer.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% mission success rate over 7 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use International Launch Services
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
International Launch Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
International Launch Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- KARI (Korean Aerospace Research Institute)coreFirst commercial Angara 1.2 contract signed with KARI for launch of KOMPSAT-6 satellite from Plesetsk Cosmodrome around 2020.
- InmarsatcoreAgreement for future launch of Inmarsat satellite on ILS Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome for Global Xpress constellation expansion.
- IntelsatflagshipMulti-Launch Agreement signed for five ILS Proton missions through 2023 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, representing a major customer commitment.
- Lockheed Martin CorporationcoreLockheed Martin originally co-founded ILS as a joint venture with Khrunichev and RSC Energia to market both Proton and Atlas launch vehicles. Lockheed Martin provides commercial launch services expertise and access to Western satellite operator markets.
- Khrunichev State Research and Production Space CentercoreKhrunichev is the majority shareholder in ILS and the manufacturer of Proton and Angara launch vehicles. The partnership provides ILS with exclusive rights to market these launch vehicles to commercial customers worldwide. Khrunichev operates launch facilities at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.
- Northrop Grumman (SpaceLogistics LLC)corePartnership for launch of Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1), the first commercial satellite servicing vehicle, demonstrating innovative on-orbit servicing capabilities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
International Launch Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SpaceX: Provides commercial launch services using Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy; directly competes with Proton/Angara on commercial GEO and government satellite launch contracts, especially for Eutelsat, SES, and Intelsat missions.
- United Launch Alliance (ULA): Operates Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur for medium-to-heavy GEO and government payloads; a direct competitor to ILS for commercial satellite operators and US government launch contracts.
- Arianespace: European launch services marketer of Ariane 6 and Vega-C for commercial satellite and government missions; competes with ILS in the same government and commercial GEO satellite market.
- Blue Origin: Develops New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle for commercial and government payloads; an emerging direct competitor to Proton on heavy-lift GEO and beyond-LEO missions.
- Rocket Lab: Operates Electron small-launch and is developing Neutron medium-launch for commercial and government satellite deployment; an emerging direct competitor particularly overlapping with Angara 1.2 in the LEO/SSO market.
- Northrop Grumman Space Systems: Operates Pegasus (air-launched) and Minotaur launch vehicles and is also an ILS customer (SpaceLogistics/MEV-1); competes as a launch provider and collaborates with ILS on commercial missions.
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Operates H-IIA and H3 launch vehicles from Japan for commercial GEO satellite launches; a competing medium-to-heavy launch provider with comparable target customers.
Regional players
- China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC): Markets Long March launch vehicles internationally, including commercial GEO launches; comparable launch services offering focused on a different geographic market from ILS, with overlap on emerging market and selected commercial customers.
- Antrix Corporation (ISRO commercial arm): Markets PSLV and GSLV launch vehicles from India for foreign commercial satellite customers; an emerging regional player offering lower-cost small-to-medium launches comparable to Angara's payload class.
Others
- Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center: ILS's majority owner and the manufacturer of Proton and Angara launch vehicles, operating Baikonur and Plesetsk cosmodromes; the upstream supplier and strategic partner that produces ILS's entire commercial service offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
International Launch Services social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Launch Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Launch Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
International Launch Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Launch Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International Launch Services
What does International Launch Services do?
International Launch Services provides commercial launch services for global satellite operators and governments using Russian-manufactured Proton Breeze M and Angara 1.2 launch vehicles built by Khrunichev. The company delivers end-to-end mission management from contract signing through on-orbit delivery, with dedicated account teams providing tailored launch solutions for communications, broadcasting, Earth observation, and government satellite missions. Services include mission integration, scheduling, launch coordination, and post-launch monitoring from Baikonur and Plesetsk cosmodromes.
Is International Launch Services a public or private company?
International Launch Services is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was International Launch Services founded?
International Launch Services was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is International Launch Services based?
International Launch Services is headquartered in Reston, United States, in the North America region.
How does International Launch Services make money?
One revenue line is on record: launch Services.
Who are International Launch Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA), Arianespace, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman Space Systems and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Regional players are China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and Antrix Corporation (ISRO commercial arm). Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center is listed as an others.
Does International Launch Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Launch Services.
What industry is International Launch Services in?
International Launch Services's product category is Commercial Launch Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABACAE, Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters. Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.