The European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) has published a technical document detailing the main characteristics of the new Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS).
According to the document, Galileo satellites will transmit emergency warning messages directly to Galileo-enabled smartphones and other navigation devices. The satellites will offer information related to the hazard, such as type, severity, expected onset and duration, as well as the location of the affected area and instructions to follow. The alert content will be generated by national authorities and transmitted to Galileo for broadcast.
“With this new document, some of our key stakeholders can already start to work with this new service,” said Fiametta Diani, head of market, downstream and innovation at EUSPA. “Civil protection authorities in the member states can start to prepare for how they will manage the alert messages they will send via Galileo. The same goes for the receiver and chipset communities, who will have to process this message.”
In 2023, EUSPA began testing the EWSS in different locations in Europe. “We have run trials in Toulouse and in Germany, specifically with a simulated explosion,” Diani said, “like what you might see with an industrial accident. We have also tested a tsunami alert in Cyprus.” The Union is developing the tsunami application together with Japanese partners. EUSPA has also finished flood testing in Belgium and Luxembourg.
EUSPA plans to launch the new EWSS in 2025, Diani said. “As for the receivers, we are working to get our chipset and receiver industry ready,” she said, adding that this process is also supported by the Fundamental Elements program.
Fundamental Elements is an EU funding mechanism that supports the research and development of European GNSS-enabled chipsets, receivers and antennas. The projects are part of the overall strategy for European GNSS market uptake, said EUSPA.
The member states and the correlating national civil protection authorities will initiate warnings, according to Ignacio Alcantarilla Medina of the European Commission.
“[Authorities] will send a message to the Galileo system, and then Galileo will transmit that message through its satellite signals to the users,” he said.
According to EUSPA, the service is designed to be used worldwide to serve as a backup to the already existing mobile network warning systems.
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by Boeing to enhance the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling system with a modernized vehicle management system computer (VMSC). This upgrade aims to enhance the computing power of the MQ-25 and address both obsolescence issues and overall aircraft performance for future operations.
The MQ-25 — recognized as the Navy’s inaugural operational carrier-based UAV — is primarily tasked with aerial refueling capabilities designed to alleviate the burden on F/A-18 aircraft and improve the fleet’s operational flexibility.
The next-generation VMSC developed by BAE Systems is key to controlling the MQ-25’s flight surfaces and managing the vehicle. The upgrade is designed to enhance the MQ-25’s functionality and make its critical missions more efficient by consolidating hardware components into a single computer system.
The VMSC upgrade will incorporate quad-core processors, which augment the system’s computing power without increasing its size, weight, or power consumption. The selection of a multi-core processor, already qualified on another U.S. military platform, aims to mitigate cost, schedule, and integration risks associated with the MQ-25 program.
By replacing multiple onboard computers with a single VMSC, the upgrade is expected to improve aircraft reliability and decrease the total cost of ownership for the Navy. Additionally, the VMSC is designed to support the expansion of the MQ-25’s mission set, potentially including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and to establish a foundation for future carrier-based unmanned systems through the implementation of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operational concepts.
The VMSC enhancement work is conducted at BAE Systems’ engineering and manufacturing facility in Endicott, New York, underscoring the company’s commitment to advancing the U.S. Navy’s unmanned aerial capabilities.
Scientific Systems has released upgrades for ImageNav, an image-based navigation software designed for GPS-denied or compromised environments.
With more than a decade of development, ImageNav offers a robust alternative to traditional GPS navigation for military operations, particularly in contested environments where jamming poses a threat to GPS reliability.
The demand for such technology has become increasingly critical considering enhancements to electronic warfare capabilities, with instances of GPS signal disruption impacting military assets. ImageNav is designed to address GPS vulnerability by offering precise navigation for a wide range of systems, including weapons, aircraft and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), without reliance on GPS signals.
ImageNav uses an onboard electro-optical (EO) or infrared (IR) digital camera and can employ three algorithms to analyze captured images and correlate them with stored terrain and image references. This process allows both absolute and relative navigation position updates. The technology can be integrated into air platforms as a software upgrade or as part of a self-contained hardware payload, minimizing size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements.
Scientific Systems is actively pursuing the integration of ImageNav onto GPS-guided munitions and UAS to operate in environments where GPS access is denied. Recent testing has demonstrated the technology’s capability to navigate without GPS and hit targets within required performance parameters.
The Global Earth Observation Decentralized Network (GEODNET) Foundation — the organization governing the blockchain-based global navigation network GEODNET — has completed a $3.5 million seed funding round. The round was led by North Island Ventures, with participation from Modular Capital, Road Capital, Tangent, Reverie, and select angels, who join existing GEODNET backers Borderless, IoTeX and JDI Ventures.
The GEODNET Foundation is building a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference network for positioning based on real-time kinematics (RTK). Standard GPS is typically off by two meters; however, devices connected to GEODNET’s global RTK network are designed to achieve instant accuracy within 1 cm to 2 cm. Many internet-of-things (IoT) and autonomous applications, such as UAVs, smart mowers and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), have shifted to RTK in place of standard GPS positioning, the company said.
GEODNET is a community-based decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). Anyone can contribute to the network by installing and operating a reference station, known as a satellite miner. Satellite miners are designed to deliver precise RTK correction data to devices equipped with GNSS receivers in a range of approximately 20 km to 40 km. By building and participating in the network, satellite mining operators earn GEOD tokens.
GEODNET has more than 4,000 registered reference stations in more than 2,500 cities across 120 countries. GEODNET aims to provide robust precision navigation systems to a variety of industries, including self-driving cars, agriculture, consumer robots, and more.
In my November 2023 GPS World newsletter, I highlighted the announcement made by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of the recipients of the NOAA FY 23 Geospatial Modeling Competition Awards. The grantees’ proposals include developing models to address what NGS denotes as the Intra-Frame Deformation Model (IFDM). The primary objectives of these projects are to modernize geodetic tools and models, as well as to develop a geodetic workforce for the future. A significant improvement in the new, modernized National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) is the time-dependent component being incorporated in the computation of reference epoch coordinates (RECs). That said, developing models that accurately capture the time-dependent component is extremely important to providing reliable, consistent, and accurate RECs. My February 2024 newsletter highlighted NGS’s grant to The Ohio State University for developing a fully kinematic reference frame for the Continental United States and Canada. Similar to the OSU project, a goal of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) project is to provide an accurate IFDM, which will provide reliable, consistent and accurate RECs. On Jan. 10, 2024, Yehuda Bock, Ph.D., gave a presentation about this at the general membership meeting of the American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS). His presentation can be downloaded from the AAGS’s website: https://aagsmo.org/.
Summary of the SIO Geospatial Award. (Image: NGS website)
Bock is director of the California Spatial Reference Center (CSRC), which is responsible for “establishing and maintaining an accurate state-of-the-art network of GPS control stations for a reliable spatial reference system in California.” I highlighted the CSRC in my June 2023 GPS World Newsletter.
Yehuda’s proposal included the following three activities:
Create a formal Geodesy Program at SIO to address the nationwide deficiency of geodesists. Expand current geophysics curriculum – funding for five graduate students.
Develop an IFDM to supplement the NSRS for users in regions with significant ground motions, using GNSS and InSAR/GNSS displacement fields (funded by NASA projects) and underlying geophysical models. CSRC will exercise the IFDM through its community of public, private and academic users of precise spatial referencing in our challenging region of secular and transient crustal movements.
Investigate a unified vertical reference frame, including a marine geoid optimized to be consistent with the full spectrum of observations from modern gravimetric geoids (e.g., GRAV-D, ICGEM), remotely sensed observations (e.g., SWOT, ICESat-2), in situ ocean observations and assimilating ocean models and the TRF.
Yehuda’s project includes creating a formal geodesy program at SIO that will help to address the geodesy crisis. Anyone keeping up with my columns knows that I have been highlighting the geodesy crisis and programs that advance the science of geodesy (July 2020, November 2022, and December 2022).
Yehuda showed a slide that highlighted “What Geodesy Can Tell Us About Earth.” Looking at the slide, geodesists are needed in the field of climatology, meteorology, hydrology, geology, volcanology, oceanography, and glaciology, as well as surveying, mapping, and navigation. All these disciplines study Earth’s dynamic processes and involve geodesy.
From Yehuda Bock Ph.D.’s presentation to the AAGS General Membership Meeting. (Image: AAGS website)
The images “Geodesy Curriculum at SIO (PhD, MSc)”, “Geodesy Courses – 1” and “Geodesy Courses – 2” provide information about the Geodesy Program as SIO.
From Yehuda Bock, Ph.D.’s Presentation to the AAGS General Membership Meeting. (Image: AAGS website)
Notice that some of the courses focus on topics that are important to real world applications. For example, GNSS precise point positioning applications to seismotectonics, GNSS signal propagation applications to atmospheric remote sensing and GNSS reflection: soil moisture and sea level and the vertical datum.
From Dr. Yehuda Bock Ph.D.’s presentation to the AAGS General Membership Meeting. (Image: AAGS website)FromYehuda Bock, Ph.D.’s presentation to the AAGS General Membership Meeting. (Image: AAGS website)
In addition to the graduate-level courses, they are proposing an undergraduate course titled Geodesy and Geospatial Information. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the skills in geospatial systems that will provide opportunities for eventual employment in the public and private sectors.
Proposed Undergraduate Course
Title: Geodesy and Geospatial Information
Course justification and content objectives: Geodesy is the study of Earth’s size (geometry), shape (gravity field) and deformations (e.g., plate tectonic motions, subsidence). It provides access to a well-defined spatial reference system for precise geospatial information (latitude, longitude, height, elevation with respect to sea level) used for positioning, navigation, surveying and mapping. Geodesy is also an important discipline within the earth, atmospheric and oceanographic sciences, using observations of GPS and other satellite navigation constellations, remote sensing platforms (satellite and drone), and various terrestrial sensors. It is a data- and analysis-intensive discipline increasingly requiring modern data science methods. This introductory course will provide students with a solid background in geospatial systems for eventual employment in the public and private sectors. The course will also serve as a pipeline to the geodesy track at SIO/Earth Sciences and to other academic institutions and to alleviate the nationwide deficiency of geodesists. The objective is to provide basic knowledge of geodetic concepts for Earth and data scientists and the underlying geodetic framework for precise spatial information.
Learning objectives:
Acquire basis concepts of geodetic science.
Provide overview of geodetic instrumentation and observations.
Develop elementary skills in geodetic data analysis.
Explore existing geodetic infrastructure and data repositories.
Experience hands on visualization and manipulation of geospatial information.
Understand the underlying geodetic framework for precise spatial information systems.
Provide example of data science applications in solving geodetic problems.
Preferred background: statistics, linear algebra, Matlab/Python
In my opinion, universities should provide a general elective course for undergraduate students that provides an introduction in how geodesy influences your daily routines. For example, how does my phone know where I am and how does it know the best route I should take to get to my destination?
How Does My Phone Know Where I Am? (Image: Dave Zilkoski)
The second task in the SIO proposal is to develop an IFDM. The concept of an IFDM is part of NGS’ modernized, NSRS. Several of my previous My July 2023GPS World newsletter highlighted a presentation by Yehuda discussing a kinematic datum that uses an intra-frame velocity model to estimate positions at any time with respect to a reference frame and epoch.
As I mentioned in my July 2023 newsletter, California’s geodetic network is significantly affected by crustal movement. To help address this issue, the CSRS updated the NAD 83 coordinates, it is denoted as CSRS epoch 2017.5 (NAD 83). Part of the implementation of the CSRC epoch 2017.50 (NAD 83) was to have the new epoch-date coordinates transmitted with RTCM 3.0 data streams. This is something that other RTN operators from around the nation will have to do after NGS publishes the NSRS coordinates. The CSRS is a model from which others can learn.
During his presentation to AAGS, Yehuda highlighted his methodology of integrating InSAR and GNSS to develop an IFDM that provides for higher spatial resolution to improve the model between GNSS stations.
The boxes titled “SCIP Dynamic Datum Utility” and “Output from SCIP Utility” provide an example of an input and output of the utility, and the box titled InSAR/GNSS Integration for Higher Spatial Resolution” is a conceptual diagram of the concept.
Not only has this abbreviation been spelled out before, but here the full phrase appears three times, in three consecutive sentences.
SCIP Dynamic Datum Utility. (Image: SOPAC website)Output from SCIP Utility. (Image: (SOPAC Website)From Yehuda Bock Ph.D.’s Presentation to the AAGS General Membership Meeting (Image: AAGS website)
The image provides an example of the concept in the San Joaquin Valley, California.
InSAR/GNSS Integration Example.
The following statement is in the note section of the slide:
“Area of subsidence in San Joaquin Valley. Our weekly displacement time series at GNSS station P056 shows significant changes in subsidence rate over the period 2006 to 2022, for a total of 3.3 feet that reflects periods of drought and increased groundwater use. On the upper right is the InSAR time series at that location for a shorter period of time.” This shows the potential of using InSAR to improve the IFDM in areas of sparse CORS.
The third item in the proposal is to “Investigate a unified vertical reference frame, including a marine geoid optimized to be consistent with the full spectrum of observations from modern gravimetric geoids (e.g., GRAV-D, ICGEM), remotely-sensed observations (e.g., SWOT, ICESat-2), in situ ocean observations and assimilating ocean models, and the TRF.”
The images below provide a list of the reference surfaces involved in unifying the vertical reference frames and the observing systems involved in the project. Understanding the geoid at the land-sea interchange is important to estimating accurate GNSS-derived orthometric heights along the coast as well as in the oceans. My August 2021 newsletter highlighted the concept of establishing an International Height Reference System (IHRS) so that all countries could provide physical heights across their boundaries and over the oceans. This project would support that international activity.
From Yehuda Bock Ph.D.’s Presentation to the AAGS General Membership Meeting. (Image: AAGS website)From Yehuda Bock Ph.D.’s Presentation to the AAGS General Membership Meeting. (Image: AAGS website)
This newsletter and my previous GPS World newsletter highlighted two of the grantees, \SIO and OSU, which included developing models to address what NGS denotes as the IFDM.
The SIO program includes creating a formal geodesy program at SIO that will help to address the geodesy crisis. In addition to the graduate level courses, they are proposing an undergraduate course that will provide students with the skills in geospatial systems that will provide opportunities for eventual employment in the public and private sectors. My next newsletter will address another NGS geospatial modeling grant awardee – Oregon State University’s proposal.
Iridium Communications, a satellite network operator, will acquire Satelles for $115 million. Satelles is a provider of secure satellite-based time and location services that complement and protect GPS and other GNSS-reliant systems.
While Satelles primarily focuses on providing its satellite time and location (STL) services for digital infrastructure companies, there are potential applications for aviation, the company said. Satelles offers smaller form factor devices that can be integrated with data processing and storage servers to provide critical positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) data.
According to Iridium, the STL service uses the stronger broadcast paging channels of the Iridium satellite constellation to deliver precise timing information. This aims to provide global, secure time and location signals that are more powerful than GNSS constellations, the company continued. The service is resilient to regional GNSS outages, works inside buildings and is being used to secure digital infrastructure for financial markets, governments and major corporations.
The company is now working to reduce the size and cost barriers to improve integration with autonomous systems, consumer devices, vehicles and traditional markets such as aviation, maritime and land mobile. STL can help mitigate GNSS jamming and spoofing, with dedicated STL receivers incorporated into aircraft avionics.
“The most immediate application would be in aviation/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground infrastructure to support PNT resilience in their networks,” Iridium CEO Matt Desch told AIN. “[In the] longer term, there would be an opportunity for avionics providers to build STL into their avionics to protect the integrity of the GPS signals their boxes use and provide a way to tell if GPS signals were compromised or spoofed. We don’t think we’ll be an alternative to GPS or other GNSS applications—only a backup to constantly check signal integrity.”
A long-standing investor in Satelles, Iridium had an ownership stake of 20% from three previous investments in the company. Iridium expects to complete the acquisition in the next few weeks.
The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EuroControl) has awarded GMV a contract for the evolution of AUGUR, a free service for pilots, airspace users and air navigation service providers.
AUGUR is a web-based service that makes it possible to predict the availability of the GPS and receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) navigation solution for a wide range of air operations. The RAIM processing algorithm, which is standardized and incorporated into most aeronautical GPS receivers, allows operators to check the integrity of GPS satellite signals by exploiting the redundancy of measurements offered by the current constellation.
Although only four satellites in view are needed to calculate the position and time of the aircraft, the current GPS constellation has 31 active satellites, meaning that the receivers are getting signals from more than four satellites much of the time. The RAIM technique takes advantage of these additional measurements to check the integrity of the satellites and ensure the position obtained is correct within the alarm limits established for each operation.
Within the framework of the new project, GMV will lead all phases related to the development of the new AUGUR services, including the definition of requirements, design, implementation, verification, validation and software deployment. Throughout the process of designing, developing and validating the new version, GMV will also continue to provide the current services, ensuring that they are not interrupted. The new version will be available in May 2025.
The improvements made to the AUGUR include RAIM GPS availability displayed on a map and the integration of the planned Navigation Integrity Category (NIC), which measures the quality of the aircraft navigation position transmitted via automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B). It also issues space weather warnings such as solar flares, geomagnetic storms and coronal mass ejections (CME) and has options to import or export geographic data in industry-standard formats.
Topcon Ninja Wildcat, one of the sponsored characters featured in the Get Kids into Survey campaign. (Image: Topcon)
Topcon Positioning Systems has expanded its support for the Get Kids into Survey (GKiS) project, now serving as the exclusive sponsor of the Global Brand Ambassador Hub. This new platform will offer a comprehensive range of resources to the project’s Brand Ambassadors, a worldwide community of volunteers who visit schools to advocate for surveying as a career and introduce students to the surveying and geospatial industries.
Get Kids into Survey originated in 2017 and was initiated by cofounder Elaine Ball through the creation of a poster that surveyors could use to explain the profession to children. Since its inception, the project has continued to highlight the work of surveyors for young audiences, backed by an industry keenly aware of the necessity to attract the next generation of surveyors.
The Hub will allow GKiS to develop and host resources for the global network of ambassadors and aims to increase participation in career fairs, workshops and educational activities across more than 30 countries.
By sponsoring a homework project with GKiS, Topcon will also have its own unique GKiS cartoon character, Yumi the Wildcat Survey Ninja. Yumi will be the face of the Topcon brand to young aspiring surveyors and be given her own Character Spotlight on the GKiS blog.
Research conducted by Topcon has shown that nearly a third of construction managers throughout Europe have identified skill shortages as a major challenge in their projects.
According to Topcon, this shortage stems from a combination of experienced employees leaving the industry and a lack of recruits. Programs such as GKiS represent just one example of the outreach and educational initiatives designed to address and reverse this trend.
“The GKiS project is about lifting the lid on the geospatial and survey industries for young people, and showing that they are exciting, future-gazing and technology-driven careers,” said Elaine Ball, co-founder of GKiS.
1Spatial, a location master data management (LMDM) software and solutions provider, has secured a three-year contract with a leading Distribution System Operator for electricity and gas networks in Belgium. 1Sparial plans to support the utility company in developing a digital twin for its distribution network, with a focus on enhancing the quality and precision of its geospatial data.
The contract is for geospatial data processing services. 1Spatial’s 1Integrate will be used for data quality control, validation and geospatial data production services.
The project will allow the utility company to efficiently manage distribution networks and make connections and repairs while ensuring safety.
The total contract value to 1Spatial is €9 million, of which 1Spatial will deliver €4.1 million including €0.3 million in term software license revenue. 1Spatial will utilize partners to deliver the balance of the work, with a total value of €4.9 million, over the three-year duration of the contract.
Trimble has collaborated with DroneDeploy to integrate the Trimble Applanix POSPac Cloud post-processed kinematic (PPK) GNSS positioning service into DroneDeploy’s UAV mapping and data collection platform. The partnership aims to provide DroneDeploy users with centimeter-level accuracy and a more efficient workflow for reality capture projects.
The integration uses Trimble Applanix POSPac Cloud PPK service and CenterPoint RTX post-processing to achieve high-accuracy positioning based on dual-frequency observables logged by UAVs. The collaboration marks a significant advancement in drone mapping technology by eliminating the need for base stations and simplifying operational workflows.
Trimble’s RTX services offer real-time and post-processed centimeter-level accuracy globally and provide corrections via satellite or cellular/IP. The technology is designed to streamline the mapping process for UAV operators by offering an automated setup, a fixed global datum and reduced field time.
DroneDeploy’s platform, which is enhanced with Trimble’s Applanix POSPac Cloud PPK and RTX, aims to improve the accuracy of 3D reality capture models, opening up new possibilities for UAV operations in construction, topography and other industries.
Aerodyne Group, a UAV-based enterprise solutions provider, and Singapore-based DroneDash Technologies have partnered to initiate cross-border UAV delivery services. The collaboration is designed to advance logistics and supply chain capabilities between Malaysia and Singapore and enhance operational efficiency by offering a delivery solution that is five times faster than traditional sea freight.
Under the partnership, UAVs will navigate through regulatory landscapes to secure necessary permits for establishing shore-to-shore operations along the Malaysia-Singapore corridor. The initiative focuses on safe navigation through congested maritime and aerial paths by offering a navigation system supported by satellite communications and 5G roaming.
Commercial operations are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2024 with UAVs capable of carrying up to 30 kg, reaching speeds of 150 km/h within a four-hour flight span.
The service is designed for critical deliveries such as urgent documents, high-value electronics, medical supplies and perishable foods. The UAV has features to enhance cross-border logistics, including real-time tracking and advanced security protocols, including 256-bit encryption and blockchain technology for logistical oversight.
The Russian satellite navigation system is experiencing tough times as Western sanctions and Russia’s ever-growing international isolation seriously complicate its further development.
Prior to Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia’s navigation sector was developing well and had a healthy growth rate, which is reflected by the steady growth and improved performance of its satellite constellations. However, the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine and the consequent international sanctions regime against Russia has put an end to the hopes for further development of the sector and especially of its flagship GLONASS global navigation satellite system (GNSS).
As for GLONASS, as academician Nikolai Testoedov, general designer of JSC Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev, one of Russia’s leading satellite manufacturing companies, said during a general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the main problem is that Western sanctions do not allow Russia to bring its positioning accuracy to the desired 30 cm or at least 50 cm.
According to Testoedov, the main reasons for this are serious problems with the supplies of electronic components, most of which Russia traditionally imported. “Until 2014, when the first sanction restrictions were introduced, the share of imports in Russia’s entire satellite constellations reached 42%,” Testoedov said. “Currently we implement a strategy of import substitution in the sector, which is designed until 2030 and involves a transition to 100% domestic products. As of 2014, we had 6,000 electronic components of foreign origin. Since 2014, a lot of work has been done to combine various equipment. Now, it is used in Russia’s satellite constellations.”
It has already brought some results. According to Ivan Revnivyh, head of the GLONASS department of the Russian space corporation Roscosmos, thanks to the new satellites that have been launched in recent years, the accuracy of GLONASS civil signals has increased up to 1.32 meters. According to Revnivyh, Russia plans to continue work in this direction as part of its existing federal project “Maintenance, development and use of the GLONASS system,” which intends to increase the accuracy of the signals up to 0.3 m.
Russia plans to continue to improve GLONASS’s accuracy until it matches that of other GNSS and meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements.
“When landing a civil aircraft at unequipped airfields,” Testoedov said, “the signal should arrive with a delay of no more than 6 seconds, with an accuracy of no worse than half a meter.”
Despite the sanctions, Russia plans to continue to develop GLONASS. As part of these plans, starting from 2025, it plans to launch modernized GLONASS-K2 satellites in an import-substituted and multifunctional version. Thanks to this, the signal will be 100 times more powerful than the standard one. That will be primarily achieved by using dedicated navigation satellites weighing about 1 ton.
After 2030, Russia also plans to place six satellites in geosynchronous orbits (about 36,000 km), which will increase the availability of the signal in Russian cities and difficult terrains.
There are also plans to create a constellation of 300 satellites in low-Earth-orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 500 to 100 km. They are expected to increase the strength Russian satellite signals by more than 1,000 times.
In recent years, Russia has faced restrictive policies implemented by various international bodies, including the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and the International Association of Geodesy. According to Russian experts, many of these bodies are currently taking discriminatory measures against Russian systems and technologies.
In this regard, Russia plans to propose to the countries members of BRICS — an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates — to design products and systems whose characteristics will be comparable to those of Western origin. According to Reshetnev Systems’ experts, however, this could improve results — mainly, accuracy — by only 20 percent, which would not be critical for Russia.
GLONASS, which first achieved a full constellation of 24 satellites in 1995, currently consists of 24 satellites of three types: GLONASS-M, which has been produced since 2003, GLONASS-K which has been produced since 2011, and two GLONASS-K2, which Russia launched in 2023. All the satellites are part of the Cospas-Sarsat system.
Despite the fact that the life expectancy for most Russian GLONASS satellites is seven to 10 years, many of them, according to Testoedov, are already more than twice as old. Russia plans to replace at least six GLONASS satellites within the next two to three years. In the first years of launching the constellation, Roscosmos usually launched nine satellites into orbit at once; currently, it is launching only one or two at a time.
Still, it is possible that these rates will increase significantly, as by 2030 Russia plans to increase its constellation of satellites by up to 1,000 satellites. For this purpose, the country plans to produce 200-250 satellites per year.
According to the head of Roscosmos, Yury Borisov, space industry enterprises should produce one satellite per day by 2030. According to him, the Russian Federation is ready to learn from the experience of other countries in this area, such as China.
