Earlier this week, we reported that China is developing a custom operating system (OS) for military computers in order to replace the Windows systems currently in use. It now seems that Russia is pursuing a similar strategy, since the Kremlin recently gave the domestically developed Astra Linux operating system the highest possible security rating.

As a result of the security rating, the Russian military and other government departments may now use Astra Linux for communications of “special importance.” So far, computers running adjusted versions of Windows have been used for this purpose. The alterations in the software were made to limit the risk of foreign hacking operations. The former IT advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin told a Russian newspaper last Friday that “there is hope that the domestic OS will be able to replace the Microsoft product.”

Read more: Russia’s Would-Be Windows Replacement Gets a Security Upgrade