GPS Device Demonstrated for Russian Heads

Russian President Vladimir Putin and top security officials witnessed a demonstration Saturday of their country’s new global positioning system.

Alexei Gromov, the presidential press secretary, told RIA Novosti that Russian Security Council members were on hand with Putin in Moscow to witness the demonstration of the new global navigational satellite system, Glonass.

Once fully operational in 2010, the system will use 24 satellites to provide detailed positioning and navigational data for all of Russia. Currently, the system offers coverage of the entire Russian Federation, but with only 18 satellites.

A similar GPS system is set to launch in 2008 with a focus of tracking pets from orbit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

ITAR-TASS said that, according to Gromov, other matters of Russian domestic and foreign policy also were discussed during the meeting Saturday.