62nd Central Communications Center of the Ministry of Defense
Overview and Designation
The 62nd Central Communications Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is a central-level military communications entity responsible for secure, continuous communications support to the central command authorities of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. In Russian sources it is often rendered as “62‑й Центральный узел связи Министерства обороны Российской Федерации” (abbreviated 62 ЦУС). Open references characterize its remit as operating backbone and switching assets for headquarters-level voice, data, and video communications on a 24/7 basis.
Alternate Naming and Translation Notes
The term “Central Communications Center” is frequently used interchangeably in translation with “Central Communications Node” for the Russian “центральный узел связи.” Russian administrative and procurement documents generally use “узел связи” (node) when referring to such central facilities. The designation “62nd” distinguishes it within the Ministry of Defense’s network of central communications organizations.
Organizational Subordination
The 62nd Central Communications Center is subordinated to the Main Communications Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Glavnoye upravlenie svyazi, GUS). The GUS is embedded within the General Staff structure, and its chief concurrently serves as a Deputy Chief of the General Staff. Russian authorities publicly reported in May 2024 the arrest of Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, then head of the GUS and Deputy Chief of the General Staff; no official statements indicated changes to the missions of central communications centers as a result. The 62nd Center operates within the Integrated Communications System of the Armed Forces under GUS oversight.
Location Context
Open-source materials place the Ministry of Defense’s central command infrastructure in Moscow. The Ministry’s main complex is at 19 Znamenka Street, and the National Defense Management Center (NDMC) complex is located on Frunzenskaya Embankment in central Moscow. Public documents associate the 62nd Central Communications Center with Moscow-based Ministry of Defense communications functions. Specific site coordinates, facility layouts, and garrison details for the 62nd Center are not officially published.
Mission and Core Functions
The center’s tasks include operating switching and routing nodes for the Ministry of Defense’s closed communications networks; providing secure telephony, data transmission, and video conferencing; conducting network monitoring, management, and service assurance; and executing restoration and continuity measures during outages. It facilitates interoperability across terrestrial fiber backbones, radio-relay and troposcatter links, high-frequency (HF) radio, and satellite communications, ensuring command-and-control connectivity between the central apparatus and subordinate commands.
Network Architecture and Interconnections
Russian military communications employ a layered architecture comprising closed IP networks over dedicated fiber, microwave radio-relay trunks, HF/VHF/UHF radio, and satellite links. Central communications centers function as backbone aggregation and management points interconnecting the Ministry of Defense’s internal networks with regional and service-level segments while remaining isolated from public internet infrastructure. Network design emphasizes multi-path redundancy and diverse media to maintain connectivity under disruption.
Satellite Communications Integration
At the strategic level, Russian military communications integrate with national military satellite systems. These include the Blagovest (14F149) geostationary communications satellites—four units launched between 2017 and 2019—and the Meridian and Meridian‑M highly elliptical satellites (14F112/14F112M) providing high-latitude coverage. Legacy Raduga‑1M (11F664) geostationary satellites have also supported military links. Ground segment access and gateway operations are managed by the Ministry of Defense and associated enterprises; public sources do not specify which gateway assets are allocated to the 62nd Center.
Support to the National Defense Management Center (NDMC)
Operational since 2014, the NDMC is the Russian Federation’s central hub for defense decision support and force management. Ministry-level communications centers provide the NDMC with secure, high-availability circuits for real-time situational awareness and directive transmission. Open sources describe central communications centers as essential to NDMC connectivity; official documentation does not publicly detail the specific circuits, equipment, or facilities assigned to the 62nd Center.
Resilience and Continuity Measures
Russian command-and-control doctrine emphasizes survivable, resilient communications. Central communications centers employ redundancy across transmission media (fiber, radio-relay, HF, satellite), geographic dispersion of key nodes, power backup via uninterruptible power supplies and diesel generation, and electromagnetic protection measures. Detailed engineering specifications, hardening levels, and protected-site locations for the 62nd Center are not disclosed in public sources.
Cryptographic Security and Information Assurance
Secure communications within the Ministry of Defense rely on Russian state-certified cryptographic hardware and associated key management procedures governed by defense information security regulations. Central communications centers manage the deployment, configuration control, and lifecycle support of crypto devices across backbone and access links and coordinate incident response related to communications security. Specific cryptographic suites, device models, and inventories used by the 62nd Center are classified and not publicly available.
Procurement Footprint and Contractors
Russian state procurement records show central communications centers acting as contracting authorities for communications equipment, construction, modernization, and maintenance. The Ministry of Defense utilizes state-affiliated and private suppliers, notably JSC Voentelecom for network deployment and operations and the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC, FGUP “Kosmicheskaya svyaz”) for geostationary satellite resources. Publicly accessible contract data typically omit sensitive technical parameters and do not comprehensively enumerate the 62nd Center’s equipment holdings.
Historical Background and Modernization
Central communications nodes trace their lineage to Soviet-era national command networks designed for assured connectivity. Post‑2010 modernization introduced digital IP/MPLS backbones, upgraded switching platforms, expanded satellite capacity, and automated management systems, enabling the NDMC’s entry into service in 2014. The numbering and organizational continuity of central communications centers, including the 62nd, reflect the retention of established structures alongside progressive technical upgrades.
Operational Relevance Since 2022
Ongoing large-scale Russian military operations since 2022 have required sustained, high-volume communications between the General Staff, service headquarters, military districts, and deployed formations. Central communications centers support this requirement by providing backbone capacity and secure connectivity at the national command level. Public sources do not provide unit-specific performance or activity metrics for the 62nd Center during this period.
Information Availability and Gaps
Authoritative details on the 62nd Central Communications Center’s exact locations, internal organization, personnel strength, equipment inventories, and engineering specifications are classified and not released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Open-source references consist primarily of administrative mentions in procurement and legal documents and generalized descriptions of the Ministry’s communications architecture. As a result, only high-level characteristics can be substantiated from public information.