The Soyuz-5 next-generation space launcher was designed to replace the medium-class Zenit vehicles built in Ukraine and provide Russia with a first-stage booster for the future super-heavy rocket. Roskosmos hoped to that the low-cost vehicle would complement the Angara family of rockets for domestic needs and would make Russia competitive again on the international launch market.

The Soyuz-5 rocket family as of 2017 (left to right): The launch vehicle for the PTK Federatsiya spacecraft; a launch vehicle with the Block DM-SL upper stage for the Sea Launch platform; a launch vehicle with Block DM-SLB upper stage compatible with launch pad at Site 45 in Baikonur Cosmodrome. As of 2020, only Baikonur-based version of the rocket had been allocated any significant funding.

Number of stages 2 or 3
Stage I propulsion One four-chamber RD-171MV engine (Insider Content)
Stage II propulsion Two two-chamber RD-0124MS engines
Stage III configurations Block DM or Fregat-SBU
Payload to low Earth orbit 17 tons
Launch site Baikonur, Site 45