MOSCOW, April 17 (Reuters) - Russia is working on a modernised Angara-A5M rocket capable of launching manned spacecraft, and plans to launch it in 2027, orbitexchange the head of its Roscosmos state space agency said on Wednesday.

"Already now, by order of Roscosmos, a modernized Angara-A5M rocket with a more powerful propulsion engine is being created," Yury Borisov said in televised comments.

He said it was due to become the main means of launching next-generation manned spacecraft and modules into orbit.

Borisov was speaking in an online meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin. (Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)