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Astra Linux
A Debian-based Russian operating system certified for use in classified government, military, and critical-infrastructure environments, with mandatory access-control security features built in.
Specialty & NichedesktopDebian-basedgovernmentsecurity-certifiedRussiaDownload ↗Official site ↗Docs / Wiki ↗
Based on
Debian
First released
2008
Package manager
APT (.deb)
Desktop environments
Fly (custom), GNOME, MATE
Astra Linux is developed to meet Russian state security certification requirements (certified by Russia's Defense Ministry and security services among others), with mandatory access control and other hardened security features integrated at the OS level, well beyond what a standard Debian install provides. It's deployed widely across Russian government, military, and state-affiliated industrial organizations (including energy and rail infrastructure) as part of a broader push to reduce dependence on foreign (particularly US) operating systems in sensitive environments. Its repository is notable for being publicly available through the Linux Foundation despite Astra Linux's otherwise state-security-focused positioning, a detail worth knowing when evaluating its provenance for use outside that specific context.
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