Report: Russia Prepared to Spend $12 Billion on Glonass System by 2020

[Satellite TODAY 02-09-12] The Russian government may spend 346.5 billion rubles ($12 billion) on its Glonass satellite navigation system between 2012 and 2020, according to reports issued Feb. 8 to Russian newspapers.

   Government representatives told press officials that the Russian Ministry of Economics had agreed on a draft development program for the Glonass project with space agency Roskosmos and it had already been submitted for government’s approval in late January.

   The expenditures include 146.9 billion rubles ($5 billion) to support the system and 138.3 billion rubles ($4.6 billion) to build and develop it, according to the report. There are currently 31 Glonass satellites in orbit, 24 of which are operating to provide coverage, with another four satellites in reserve and one in test trials.