Work on the two-stage booster rocket “Proton-L” completely stopped. Khrunichev Center is no longer planning to work on this project, According to a source in the enterprise
Launcher layout “Proton-L”
The reason for the closure is called lack of funds for the development of the project.
The rocket "Proton-L" is a simplified three-step modification of a heavy carrier rocket "Proton-M". The lite version of "Proton-A" no second stage, but the remaining two stages slightly elongated. To launch the "Proton-L" does not require booster “Breeze M”.
In the same time, Center specialists, participating in the international exhibition of arms KADEX -2018, which takes place in Astana, presented her model “Proton-L” and declared, that the development of the missile will be conducted, as the increased demand for the launch of geostationary satellites with missiles of light and medium classes. Center announced prior to the 2025 of the year 24 launching rockets. In this case, the entity expects to launch both traditional “Proton M”, and its light version – “Proton-L”.