Putin: Russia far ahead of partners on GLONASS, though problems remain
MOSCOW. April 11 (Interfax) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the pace at which the GLONASS satellite cluster was formed was nothing to scoff about as other countries have fallen behind Russia in this process.
"The formation of the satellite cluster for the GLONASS system has been completed. Of course, one can mock as much as one pleases, of course there are a lot of problems with this system, but this is a key area for defense, and for security, and for the economy and the for the country's technological development," Putin said in a report to the State Duma on the government's activities.
He said Russia began this project at the same time as its European partners. "They now have, I can't remember, I think five-six satellites in orbit, we have a fully formed cluster. This is probably one of the few areas where we have really overtaken our partners," Putin said.
He said China "is trying to create such a system, but we have created it, within the time period and even faster than was initially planned."
He said that "of course we need to work on cartography, improve the signal, there are a lot of various problems."
"But we have come a very long way and it is certainly significant," Putin said.