ZHELEZNOGORSK, Krasnoyarsk Territory. Nov 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The Reshetnev research and production association of applied mechanics based in Zheleznogorsk will develop new-generation Glonass-K satellites in cooperation with Indian specialists, the association's Director General and Designer General Albert Kozlov told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"An intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in development, use and maintenance of the GLONASS global positioning system was signed between Russia and India. According to it, joint development of Glonass-K and new-generation navigation satellites will be initiated," Kozlov said.
Apart from that, the agreement provides for placing Russian Glonass-M, Russian-Indian Glonass-K satellites in orbit with the help of Indian GSLV and Russian launch vehicles. Additional work on GLONASS system proper and receiving equipment is also in plans.
"Work is now on to coordinate the agreements between the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organization in these fields. This work envisages that general schedules of actions, deliveries and documentation development will be elaborated," Kozlov said.
He maintained that a delegation of the association visited Bangalore in 2005, where it negotiated the issued of cooperation with Indian firms in satellite navigation development.
The GLONASS global satellite navigation system was developed and fielded at the request of the Russian Defense Ministry back in the early 1980s. It is designed to provide military and civilian operators with navigation data.
The Reshetnev research and production association is engaged in modernization of the GLONASS system, for which it assembles new generation Glonass-M and Glonass-K series of satellites intended to renew and replenish the group of satellites in orbit. Three Glonass-M satellites are going to be placed in orbit on December 25, after which the GLONASS system will number 17 satellites operational.