The Blok DM can inject payloads into orbit more accurately than the Briz-M,[5] making it better suited for launching satellites such as the Uragan-M which lack apogee motors.
When production ended in 2012, five Blok DM-03 stages had been produced by RKK Energia, for use on Proton and potentially Zenit rockets.
During a November 2014 interview, Vladimir Kolmykov, the Deputy General Director of the Chemical Division of Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant, stated that the production of Block-DM was suspended during that year, but work on the stage and development of the RD-58MF resumed during 2015.
The specifications of this program (Technical requirements on development work «Modernization of the upper stage «DM» for the carrier rocket heavy class») defines three different evolutions of the 11S861-03 stage:[8] In 2014 RSC Energia designated two versions: 14S48 Persei (Perseus) and 14S49, which incorporated most features of the proposed 11S861-03 Phase II, including the use of nontoxic propellants in auxiliary propulsion systems and new compact flight control system.
[3] Owing to the DM-03's larger tanks, this was more propellant than needed for the mission, and left the rocket too heavy to achieve orbit.
An investigation determined that three first stage yaw sensors had been installed backwards, resulting in the failure of the vehicle's guidance system.