Russia to Extend GLONASS Augmentation Network in 2014

Russia will deploy up to seven ground stations for the GLONASS satellite navigation system monitoring and augmentation outside of the national territory in 2014. This statement was made by GLONASS/GNSS Forum Association Executive Director Vladimir Klimov at a conference held on the Security Technologies exhibition sidelines.

“It is planned to deploy about six or seven stations in foreign territories this year. Negotiations on the deployment of these stations are underway with foreign states,” Mr. Klimov commented on the creation of a worldwide GLONASS augmentation network.

According to the official information, about 50 stations of the kind will be constructed, which will significantly improve the GLONASS performance and provide efficient applications for high-precision navigation services and smooth monitoring of systems of coordinates and Earth rotation parameters.

“There are four GLONASS augmentation stations far from Russia, three in Antarctica and one in Brazil. Forty-six stations operate in the Russian territory and up to eight – in neighboring countries,” Mr. Klimov stated.

Russia Begins Delivering New Helicopters to Afghanistan

Russia has started delivering Mi-17V-5 military transport helicopters to Afghanistan. A total of 30 helicopters shall be transferred to Afghanistan under the corresponding contract between Rosoboronexport and the US Government. According to a source in the defence industry, three helicopters have been already supplied to Afghanistan, with the remaining helicopters being delivered in several batches in 2014.

It’s worth noting that a total of 36 Mi-17V-5 Russian helicopters have been delivered to Afghanistan via the US Army. The main contract for the supply of 21 vehicles was signed by Rosoboronexport and the US Government on May 26, 2011, and executed by the middle of 2012.

Last year, Rosoboronexport and the US Government negotiated and concluded a new major agreement to deliver an additional batch of 30 helicopters in 2014. According to the agreements between the two countries, 63 Mi-17V-5 helicopters will be supplied to the Afghan Army.

Russia’s UAC to Produce 40 SSJ100 Aircraft This Year

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation plans to manufacture 40 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft for regional flights this year, and produce a total of 50 planes in 2015. This statement was made by Mikhail Pogosyan, President of United Aircraft Corporation, at Singapore Airshow 2014 on Thursday.

“Our business plan allowed us to produce 25 aircraft in 2012. We plan to manufacture 40 planes in 2014 and around 50 aircraft next year,” Mr. Pogosyan told reporters.

The rollout from a plant located in Komsomolsk-on-Amur highlighted the corporation’s productivity. Only four planes were produced there in 2011, with this figure reaching 12 units in 2012. Mr. Pogosyan said that Mexico and Indonesia which became the first countries to operate the aircraft were satisfied with its technical characteristics and maintenance requirements.

“The Sukhoi Superjet 100 concept had proved itself. It is clear that such a plane enjoys high demand in the market,” Mr. Pogosyan concluded.

India Willing to Maintain New Aircraft Carrier with Russia

India has proposed servicing a Russian-built aircraft carrier delivered to the country last month together with Russia’s Sevmash shipyard over the next 40 years. This information was presented by a spokesperson for the shipbuilder on Thursday. The preventative said the current servicing contract is for 20 years, but Indian naval officials have proposed to extend that timeframe.

“Our Indian partners have proposed to conduct all service work on the ship together with Sevmash,” the official said.

It’s worth mentioning that the Vikramaditya was ceremonially handed over to India in November, but only departed from Russia in December, and arrived safely at its new home port Karwar last month. Sevmash representatives are scheduled to visit India next month as part of an intergovernmental military cooperation commission. The two countries have longstanding military ties and, among other projects, have cooperated on the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile and the fifth-generation PAK-FA jet fighter still under development.

Shvabe Holding to Design Equipment for Advanced Space Telescopes

Krasnogorsk Plant named after S. A. Zverev (a part of Shvabe Holding) won a competition to develop new remote sensing technologies, according to the company’s press service. The enterprise has been given the task of creating a lightweight mirror for advanced space telescopes included in the remote sensing system.

As explained by Sergey Maksin, Director General of Shvabe Holding, Krasnogorsk Plant named after S. A. Zverev is the top Russian enterprise involved in producing optical and electronic equipment for remote sensing and space control systems.

“Krasnogorsk Plant has been creating unique remote sensing technologies for many years. This project gives us the opportunity to develop innovative space-related equipment in the future,” Sergey Maksin commented.

It should be noted that on June 25, 2013, the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome with the Resurs-P spacecraft, which uses a number of unique systems designed by Krasnogorsk Plant. In particular, the Resurs-P has upgraded Geoton-L1 remote sensing equipment onboard, as well as a GSA hyperspectrometer.