MOLNIYA 3-26, also known as Molniya-3, is a communication satellite launched on October 3, 1985, from the PLMSC launch site using LC43/4 and the Molniya 8K78M launch vehicle. It has a configuration of KAUR-2 with a length of 3.6 meters, diameter of 1.6 meters, and span of 8.1 meters. The satellite's dry mass is 1,700 kilograms, and it had a launch mass of 1,750 kilograms. It was manufactured by NPOPM for GUKOS/MSVYAZ to provide communication services with an operational lifetime of three years. Its power system consists of six deployable solar arrays generating 1,000 watts and batteries. The satellite's shape is a cylinder with six panels (Cyl + 6 Pan), and its radar cross-section (RCS) value is 10.9426 square meters.