obviously, that the rocket design office "South" in the current reality is outdated. Without replacement will not be able to return a high level of Ukraine as a state space.
At the request of the corporation S7, launch vehicles "Zenith" will stop the work in 2022 year. According to the terms of the contract, to 2022 year Dneprovsky "Yuzhmash" undertakes to release the final 12 3SL modifications. After these events, Zenit will be replaced by a current Russian development, reported on http://u-news.com.ua/82844-padenie-zenita-pochemu-v-luchshej-rakete-nositele-kb-juzhnoe-bolshe-net-nadobnosti.html.
What is the Yuzhnoye design bureau doing now?
The bureau is headed by Alexander Degtyarev. According to the statement of the general director of the design bureau, plans to develop a new engine, which will be an excellent replacement for the Russian. So the company wants to increase the lifespan of Zenit. Degtyarev reported, that the company is still ready to cooperate with Kazakhstan. but, it was not possible to reach an agreement between the design bureau and Kazakhstan.
In recent years, the design bureau has not achieved great achievements. We can only note participation in two international projects - “Antares” and “Vega”. The Antares rocket received 1st stage components from the design bureau. The bureau also developed a 4th stage propulsion engine for Vega..
If we are talking about other activities “Yuzhnoye”, then these are projects, the implementation of which, at least under current conditions, is impossible.
Why cooperation with Canada is in question
Recall, what in 2017 year, the design bureau managed to conclude an agreement with Canada. Namely with the company “Maritime Launch Services”. The essence of the agreement is, that the design bureau receives permission to launch Cyclone 4M from the Canadian spaceport. According to initial plans, the launch was to take place in 2019 year. But that did not happen.
According to current plans, the launch could happen in 2022 year. The reason for the changes is already known. Canadians did not receive technical documentation from Yuzhnoye. Canadian authorities demanded it, to approve the construction of a launch site. At the moment this issue has been resolved. The design bureau received permission in early summer 2019 of the year.
One can assume, that cooperation with Canada will lead nowhere. It's worth remembering 2004 year, when Ukraine entered into a largely similar agreement with Brazil. The launch of the Cyclone-4 rockets was postponed for a long time. And in 2015 year, the agreement was completely terminated at the initiative of Brazil.
