GLONASS is Close to Operating Around the World

Formation of the space group of the Russian global positioning system GLONASS is near to completion. Rocket Proton-M launched on Thursday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome  launched to low earth target orbit  three satellites GLONASS-M.

Russian global navigation satellite system GLONASS operates on the principle similar to the American GPS. However, while this system works less stable and not on the whole territory of Russia, though, according to official figures, covering the whole country was achieved in 2008, when the total number of GLONASS satellites has been brought up to 18.

Until now orbit of the Earth has 21 operational satellites of the GLONASS system, and two reserve ones. The current launch brought the number of active GLONASS satellites in orbit to 24.
It is believed that in order to operate confidently around the world the system needs from 24 to 28 satellites.
In August, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin has assured that the GLONASS will work on a global scale before the end of 2010. Three more spacecrafts of GLONASS system are expected to be launched in addition to the already running ones.
According to Putin, in the next six years in the development of GLONASS  about 48 billion rubles (more than 1.5 billion dollars) will be invested.

Russian GLONASS sensors basically equip emergency vehicles, and state agencies. Communicators and smartphones with this system do not exist - cumbersome and expensive electronic board is used.
It is possible, however, that the suppliers of equipment fitted with navigation equipment, will have to accept the inevitable press the ban on distribution in Russia devices without chips GLONASS.