GLONASS (Russian: ГЛОНАСС, abbreviation of ГЛОбальная НАвигационная СпутниковаяСистема; tr.: GLObal’naya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema; “GLObal NAvigation SatelliteSystem” in English) is a radio-based satellite navigation system, developed by the former Soviet Union and now operated for the Russian government by the Russian Space Forces.
It is an alternative and complementary to the United States‘ Global Positioning System (GPS), the Chinese COMPASS Navigation System, and the planned Galileo positioning system of the European Union (EU).
Development on the GLONASS began in 1976, with a goal of global coverage by 1991. Beginning on 12 October 1982, numerous rocket launches added satellites to the system until the constellation was completed in 1995. Following completion, the system rapidly fell into disrepair with the collapse of the Russian economy. Beginning in 2001, Russia committed to restoring the system, and in recent years has diversified, introducing the Indian government as a partner, and accelerated the program with a goal of restoring global coverage by 2009.[1]