COSMOS 1283 (also known as Kosmos-1283) is a reconnaissance satellite designed for photo surveillance and launched by the Soviet Union on July 17, 1981, from the PLMSC launch site using the Soyuz-U launch vehicle. It was manufactured by TSSKB and operated under GUKOS ownership. The spacecraft has a Zenit-6 bus configuration with a dry mass of 2655 kg and measures 6 meters in length and 2.2 meters in diameter, having a span of 6 meters as well. Equipped with an Argon No. 36L payload for reconnaissance purposes, the satellite is powered by batteries and includes maneuver modules with engines 11D82M; S5.120. The mission was designed to last approximately 14 days, during which it performed film return type photo reconnaissance missions.