March 24, 2014 at 2:54 am (Moscow time) from Plesetsk State Test Launch Base military detachment of Air-Space Forces successfully launched Soyuz-2.1b carrier with Glonass-M Russian navigation satellite.

Soyuz-2.1b developed and manufactured by TsSKB-Progress Space-Rocket Center is the second step of Soyuz-2 upgrading. The Launch Vehicle is equipped with the control system consisting of modern components and being uniform for all the three stages, digital radio-telemetry measurements system, uprated propulsion on the Ist and IInd stages and a IIIrd stage engine with improved power characteristics.

Soyuz-2.1b lift-off mass is 306-311 metric tons, payload mass is up to 8150kg. The maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1b Flight Model was performed in December 2006. To date there have been done 15 launches of Soyuz-2.1b, including 4 launches of Soyuz-ST-B from Guiana Space Center (Kourou, South America).