The ministry's press office said the development and use of Glonass was discussed in Moscow at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and members of a government military commission.

"In his introductory speech, Sergei Ivanov said Glonass was extremely important to the country's defense and its economic development, and was ranked among the strategically vital elements of the country's infrastructure," the office said.

Also discussed were ways to improve the competitiveness of navigational services, the mass production of navigational equipment for consumers, as well as legal issues.

Glonass is a Russian analogue of the United States Global Positioning System, which is designed to allow users around the globe to receive signals from satellites to identify their position in real time.

Related Links
GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers