It is a major player in the Russian space program, being the developer and manufacturer of the Fregat upper stage, as well as interplanetary probes such as Fobos-Grunt.

The company develops and manufactures spacecraft such as the Fregat rocket upper stages, satellites and interplanetary probes.

One of the company's most notable projects was the participation in the failed Fobos-Grunt sample return mission.

Following the death of the head designer, the OKB-301 succumbed to the growing power of Vladimir Chelomey and became OKB-52 Branch No.

In January 2012, officials of Lavochkin faced administrative punishment for not taking[clarification needed] into account of designing the computer system after the crash of Russia's Mars moon spacecraft Fobos-Grunt.