OREANDA-NEWS. October 13, 2008. Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, is confident that Russian Global Navigation System will be comissioned earlier than the European one.

"We are already ahead of our European colleagues, and I am sure that our Global Navigation System will be completed earlier than the European one", stated Putin during his meeting with the Communist Party representatives on Thursday.

Prime-minister also reminded that significant state funding is provided for priority branches of the Russian economy. In particular, according to him, 58.2 billion roubles were appropriated for space, and 31.5 billion roubles- for GLONASS.

"GLONASS comprises 80% of a space program. There will be 30 satellites in the orbital constellation, and we have already approved an accelerated development program here," Putin pointed out.