Russian Space Agency To Propose Joint Communication Satellite System To India

Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos has considered proposing a joint satellite system to India in the 21st India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.

The intergovernmental panel is scheduled to take place in Moscow tomorrow.

"The core of the proposal is a prospective project of renewed Gonets satellite system…As of today, it is at least 48 spacecraft in low orbits, but the shape of the satellite can be modified depending on Indian partners' requests,”  the Russian Izvestia newspaper reported today.

Both the nations would also discuss the joint establishment and operation of a telecommunications satellite network in geostationary orbit aimed to provide remote areas that lack online access.

The communications links between satellites will also ensure global coverage and high-speed access to the Internet from anywhere on the planet.

Gonets is a military communications system designed to assist the intelligence in transferring information from compact devices. Gonets is now operating 13 satellites, the media outlet reported.

Russia and India have been close partners in military and technical cooperation for decades. The countries also collaborate in the spheres of science and medicine, as well as infrastructure construction and nuclear energy.