Glonass — the Global Navigation Satellite System — is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters. "As far as the Glonass [satellite] grouping is concerned, we plan to expand it. Specifically, the first new-generation spacecraft Glonass-K will be launched in December on the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center," Lt. Gen. Oleg Ostapenko said. In addition, a Proton carrier rocket with three Glonass-M satellites will be launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan in December.
The Glonass system requires 18 operational satellites for continuous navigation services covering the entire territory of Russia and at least 24 satellites to provide navigation services worldwide. As of late July, Russia had 21 operational spacecraft in orbit. (Source: RIA Novosti)