Russia to launch three GLONASS satellites in March

A Russian Proton M rocket carrying three GLONASS satellites will be launched from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan on 2 March, Russian space officials said Monday, taking the system another step closer to becoming a global utility. Successful deployment of the system has ramifications for the Indian defence establishment which has signed a pact with the Russians for military use of the GLONASS system.

GLONASS satellite

Russia currently has a total of 22 GLONASS satellites in orbit, of which only 16 are operational. The system requires 18 operational satellites for continuous navigation services covering the vast geographical spread of Russia and at least 24 satellites to provide navigation services worldwide.

Once fully global, it is likely India may link up some of its military systems with the GLONASS system in order to reduce its reliance on the American GPS which is susceptible to jamming. It has such an understanding with the Russians.

The Glonass system provides India a platform to induct its network-centric warfare systems.

According to Russian premier Vladimir Putin, another six satellites would be orbited later this year. If all become operational then Russia would have a constellation of 25 such satellites in orbit.

According to Putin, the GLONASS system is highly competitive and has a distinct advantage over its European counterparts.