Glonass replace GPS?

In fact, the principles of all satellite navigation systems are the same. So why do you need to create other systems, waste our time and money when you can simply use the U.S. NAVSTAR GPS? 

The answer to this question is very simple. In our world, not like monopolies. Moreover, the GPS navigation system depends on the U.S. military. If they restrict the civilian sector, and during the war in Kuwait and did disable it, then there is no guarantee that this will not happen again. Therefore, the Chinese have made their "Beydou", which is still not working in full force, and the Europeans are working to create "Galileo" .

But Russia is not far behind them - or rather, ahead. Let GLONASS (global navigation satellite network) does not work well in the civilian sector, but the military is operating correctly.

In general, the history of the GLONASS began in the eighties. Beginning in 1982, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome launched 53 satellites Glonass, the military name of which was "Hurricane". In 1993, the system was adopted for use in its composition was 13 satellites. In 1995 there were 24 in-orbit satellites, but later their number was sharply reduced, they became less a dozen.

The collapse of the Soviet Union broke up and GLONASS - the system went into decline. Still, she survived. In 1999, the GLONASS system is attributed to space technology dual-use applied in the scientific, socio-economic purposes, in the interests of national defense and security of Russia. Since 2001, the system began to recover. In 2007, lifted restrictions on the civilian sector, which only helped to increase GLONASS. As a result, the end of 2007 functioned in orbit 18 satellites.

Now in orbit 23 satellites, 21 of them are working and are used for their intended purpose and 2 hanging in the reserve. The new project GLONASS shows that the number of satellites to be increased, and now they are in orbit is not 24, and 30, some of them be placed in reserve. This year should bring into orbit several satellites, and then GLONASS will operate in full force.

With regard to exactly determine the location of objects, now it is closer to the system of GPS. In 2010, it will be brought up to 5,5 meters, and by 2011 will reach 2.8 meters. As of June 1, 2010, the accuracy of positioning using GLONASS is about 6 meters - to the news agency RIA.

GLONASS equipment already fitted with 63% of motor vehicles, about 20% of the aircraft, and 30% of marine and river vessels. In 2010, the GLONASS equipment must be equipped with all departmental vehicles.

But there is one pitfall - mobile receivers. If the GPS system uses miniature transmitters that can be installed easily in the car, then we still have a very bulky size. Because the original GLONASS was exclusively military draft. This is what inhibits the development of civil society while GLONASS - military equipment is cumbersome, expensive and consumes a lot of energy.

If everything goes well, then this problem will be solved as early as this (in 2010) year. The latest development will soon be introduced into production. An agreement was reached with Fujitsu on the production unit , at its factory in Japan  with no topological most archaic rules. The first batch of chips waiting in November.