NPO Mashinostroyeniya, Moscow, developed the original RS-18 and is now converting it into a 26.7 m (87.6 ft) space rocket called Strela, weighing in with a takeoff weight of 104 metric tons (229 kblm). The Strela is a converted intercontinental ballistic RS-18 missile (SS-19 Stiletto by NATO classification). Of Russia's 160 nuclear warhead-bearing RS-18s, 55 must be decommissioned by 2007 under the START 2 treaty. The RS-18 has logged 146 launches over the past 27 years, with 143 of them "a complete success". NPO Mashinostroyeniya's conversion of the RS-18 into the Strela was mostly limited to reprogramming the rocket's software. The Rockot is a competing conversion of the RS-18 being performed by a joint venture between German/US DaimlerChrysler and Krunichev State Research and Production Center of Russia.

Strela can carry a payload of up to 1,700 kg (3750 lbm) into low Earth orbit. NPO Mashinostroyeniya is offering the Strela with a base price for launch of US$10.5 million. NPO Mashinostroyeniya expects it will take an average of 18 months, from the time of signing a launch contract, to convert a regular RS-18 into a Strela, integrate the payload and launch it. 

Strela is included on the official list of rockets to be used by Russian federal government agencies, including the Russian Space Agency (RAKA). That could lead to Russian government orders for up to a half-dozen Strela launches annually. In addition, Strela management hopes to win contracts to launch up to 4 non-Russian payloads each year. With production of AKO Polyot, Omsk, Kosmos-3M rockets halted in 1995, Russian agencies have few choices, other than converted RS-18s and RSD-10Ms, like Strela, Start and Rockot.

Strela will be launched from Svobodny, Russia's newest spaceport, a converted facility that used to serve as the base for a military ballistic missile unit. No details have been provided, but the first launch is planned for 2000.