Russia's defense minister sees GLONASS launched in Russia in 2007

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ZHELEZNOGORSK, Krasnoyarsk Region, Mar 21 (Prime-Tass) -- Russia is expected to launch its Global Navigation Satellite System, or GLONASS, for domestic use in 2007 and worldwide in 2009, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday.

Ivanov and the Federal Space Agency's Director Anatoly Perminov were visiting Reshetnev NPO company.

Reshetnev NPO plans to produce four GLONASS-M satellites by the end of the year, Geographic Information Systems Association said in a press release Tuesday. Three of the satellites are expected to be launched this year and the fourth is scheduled to be launched in 2007.

GLONASS currently consists of 19 satellites and is planned to have 24 satellites when completed.

The Federal Space Agency has been set the task of completing the creation of GLONASS by 2009, Perminov said earlier in March.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin called on the government on December 26, 2005 to complete the creation of GLONASS in 2006-2007.

Last year the Russian government issued a ruling that would make it obligatory to install GLONASS on naval, sea-based and space vehicles, some types of passenger vehicles and vehicles that transport hazardous freight.

GLONASS is one of two global satellite navigation systems in the world, along with the U.S.? Global Positioning System, or GPS. The GPS constellation consists of 29 satellites.

Reshetnev NPO is Russia?s leading producer of telecommunication, navigation and TV broadcasting satellites. The company accounts for about 70% of satellites produced in Russia.

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Posted to the site on 21-03-2006