COSMOS 1246 (also known as Kosmos-1246) is an area reconnaissance satellite, designed for photo reconnaissance and film return type operations, launched by the Soviet Union on February 18, 1981. The spacecraft was manufactured by TSSKB using a Yantar'-1KFT bus with a Zenit reentry module, measuring 6.5 meters in length and diameter of 2.4 meters, with a span of 6.5 meters. It had a dry mass of 2720 kilograms and was launched from the TYMSC launch site at LC31 aboard a Soyuz-U vehicle. The satellite is equipped with two deployable solar arrays and batteries for power generation. Its shape consists of a sphere and DCone, and it carries the Siluet No. 1L payload, designed for area reconnaissance purposes.