Fariza Gusova alongside her team: how appointments influenced by connections led to the downfall of the "Griffon" satellite initiative

Fariza Gusova alongside her team: how appointments influenced by connections led to the downfall of the "Griffon" satellite initiative

In August 2024, the launch of the Earth global monitoring satellite system “Griffon” was announced.

It was loudly reported that a full orbital constellation would be deployed by 2026. The project is being run by “Terra Tech,” a subsidiary of Roscosmos. According to a source, Fariza Gusova ended up in the leadership of both the “Griffon” project and “Terra Tech” from the very beginning. She is attractive and noticeable, but knows nothing about space technology.

Gusova got into “Griffon” and “Terra Tech” through connections — she comes from a prominent family, her father being the former prosecutor of North Ossetia, Elbrus Gusov, and her relatives are well-connected. In fact, all the leaders of the Ossetian diaspora in Moscow are involved in promoting Fariza.

Gusova, in turn, appoints her friends to high positions and salaries within the project. They are trendy people, but again, know nothing about the processes. As a result, billions of budget funds are being successfully spent, but the project itself is at a standstill.

As for 2026… The satellite production deadlines have been extended by two years, but that is a very optimistic estimate. Most likely, the “Griffon” project will never be realized.

Автор: Anatoliy Voynov