Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. GPS News .




GPS NEWS
CIA, Pentagon trying to hinder construction of GLONASS stations in US
by Staff Writers
Moscow (Voice of Russia) Nov 22, 2013


File image.

The US Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency have been trying to persuade the US State Department not to allow Roscosmos to build several GLONASS ground-based measuring stations in the United States, alleging that they could be used for military purposes.

They fear that the structures could help Russia spy on the United States and improve the precision of Russian weaponry, the officials said. These monitor stations, the Russians contend, would significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of Moscow's version of the Global Positioning System, the American satellite network that steers guided missiles to their targets and thirsty smartphone users to the nearest Starbucks.

The Pentagon argues that if the State Department sanctions the GLONASS station deployments, Russia might be able to increase the accuracy of its guided missiles and could also use them for intelligence activity from inside US borders. The arguments have prompted the White House to postpone decision-making on the issue until Russia provides further information, according to anonymous sources in the US Administration and Department of State.

US congressman Michel Rogers, who earlier requested the Pentagon's estimates of the consequences of deploying GLONASS stations for US national security, said he didn't understand why the US should be interested in encouraging GLONASS, a competitor to the American GPS system, when the use of GPS worldwide gives the US obvious advantages in many respects.

Moscow rejects the suggestion that the structures have anything to do with surveillance operations, contending they are designed to improve the accuracy of Russia's version of the Global Positioning System (GPS), the American satellite network that steers guided missiles to their targets and helps with navigation.

"They don't want to be reliant on the American system and believe that their systems, like GPS, will spawn other industries and applications," said a former senior official in the State Department's Office of Space and Advanced Technology.

The monitor stations have been a high priority for Russian President Vladimir Putin for several years as a means of improving Glonass, not just to benefit the Russian military and civilian sectors but also to compete globally with GPS.

Earlier this year, Russia positioned a station in Brazil and agreements with Spain, Indonesia and Australia are expected soon, according to Russian news reports. The United States has stations around the world but none in Russia.

In May 2012, Moscow requested that the United States allow the ground-monitoring stations on American soil. American technical and diplomatic officials have met several times to discuss the issue and have asked Russian officials for more information, said Ms. Harf, the State Department spokeswoman.

In the meantime, CIA analysts reviewed the proposal and concluded in a classified report this fall that allowing the Russian monitor stations here would raise counterintelligence and other security issues.

The State Department does not think that is a strong argument, said an administration official. "It doesn't see them as a threat".

Source: Voice of Russia

.


Related Links
Roscosmos
GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








GPS NEWS
Russia to enforce GLONASS Over GPS
Moscow (Voice of Russia) Nov 13, 2013
As of 2014, phones with only GPS will be illegal in Russia, Moskovskiy Komsomolets writes. In order to be imported into the country, mobile devices will have to support GLONASS - satellite navigation system, developed in Russia. A new bill claims that in order to guarantee stable operation of a unified telecom network in Russia regardless of conditions it's necessary that the satnav system ... read more


GPS NEWS
Impacts of plant invasions become less robust over time

New bale unroller design deemed effective

Researchers test effects of LEDs on leaf lettuce

High tunnel, open-field production systems compared for lettuce, tomato

GPS NEWS
Chaotic physics in ferroelectrics hints at brain-like computing

Nature: Single-atom Bit Forms Smallest Memory in the World

Virtual Toothpick Helps Technologist 'Bake' the Perfect Thin-Film Confection

New way to dissolve semiconductors holds promise for electronics industry

GPS NEWS
Peru boosts defense with tactical aircraft, helos

Algorithms + FA-18 Jet = Vital Testing for SLS Flight Control System

Strathclyde students launch experiment into stratosphere

It's Typhoon vs. Rafale in Emirates jet joust

GPS NEWS
Volvo signs second loan with China Development Bank

France's Renault and Peugeot seen to profit from Iran deal

Nissan says struggling to satisfy China growth

Toyota strikes first-ever hybrid parts sharing deal in China

GPS NEWS
China, US exports help double Italy trade surplus

Foreign investment in China up 5.77% in first 10 months: govt

China, EU begin negotiations on investment pact

Romania's Senate rejects Canadian gold mine

GPS NEWS
Philippines to plant more mangroves in wake of Typhoon Haiyan

Rising concerns over tree pests and diseases

Bait research focused on outsmarting destructive beetle

Landsat Data Yield Best View to Date of Global Forest Losses, Gains

GPS NEWS
Satellites to probe Earth's strange shield

Free access to Copernicus Sentinel satellite data

China launches remote-sensing satellite

Evidence of Destruction in Tacloban, Philippines

GPS NEWS
Graphene nanoribbons for 'reading' DNA

New hologram technology created with tiny nanoantennas

Nano magnets arise at 2-D boundaries

Structure of bacterial nanowire protein hints at secrets of conduction




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement