Kanopus-V is a series of small remote sensing satellites, dedicated to monitoring manmade and natural emergencies, detecting forest fires and major emissions of atmosphere pollutants. Its other uses are monitoring of agriculture, water and coastal resoures, land use. Each satellite weighs about 500 kg and is placed into sun-synchronous orbit, where it is planned to operate for about 5 years.

The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle.

The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, commonly known as Roscosmos, is the governmental body responsible for the space science program of the Russian Federation and general aerospace research. Soyuz has many launch locations the Russian sites are Baikonur, Plesetsk and Vostochny however Ariane also purchases the vehicle and launches it from French Guiana.