Russia and India will share use of Glonass, a 24-satellite navigational and global positioning system, the Russian Federal Space Agency announced Oct. 4.

Glonass is designed for military and civilian users to receive global signals from satellites to identify their positions in real time. It can also be used in geological prospecting.

The system is expected for full deployment by 2010 when the number of satellites in the constellation increases from 17 to 24. Currently, the system consists of Glonass and Glonass-M spacecraft. Test of the new Glonass-K model are expected to begin in 2007.