Roskosmos’ Precision Instrumentation Systems Research and Production Corporation, a subsidiary focused on high- precision technologies, is advancing a GLONASS ground station project in Venezuela. This development has been reported by TASS and reflects a broader trend of international collaboration in satellite navigation infrastructure. The arrangement is set within the framework of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Venezuela, with the Bolivarian Space Agency signing on behalf of Venezuela to formalize the agreement. The move underscores a strategic emphasis on enhancing global positioning capabilities through shared research, development, and operational support across partner nations.
Earlier steps in the program involved the establishment of new ground stations by NPP Radiosvyaz, a subsidiary of the Roselectronics division under Rostec. These stations are designed to improve the GLONASS network’s precision by refining ground-based reference data and strengthening the overall reliability of satellite positioning. The enhanced infrastructure supports more accurate positioning and timing services, which are critical for navigation, geodesy, aviation, and critical infrastructure applications across the region.
Rinat Galeev, Managing Director of the enterprise, highlighted that the ground-based stations operate on demand to perform off-site measurements and contribute to correcting the estimated trajectories of orbiting GLONASS satellites. Through continuous data collection and calibration, these stations help reduce orbital biases and improve coordinate stability, enabling users to obtain more accurate location information and timing signals in real time. The collaboration also emphasizes long-term data sharing and joint operational maintenance to ensure sustained performance across different atmospheric and geometric conditions.
In parallel, experts from the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (TsNIIMash) have developed software aimed at doubling the accuracy of GLONASS positioning. This software solution focuses on refining error models, improving orbit determinations, and enhancing the fusion of multiple observation streams. By integrating advanced algorithms with existing GNSS data, the approach seeks to deliver higher-precision coordinates and more reliable timing for end users, while supporting resilience against space environment disturbances and signal interference considerations.
Overall, the Venezuela initiative forms part of a wider program to expand GLONASS coverage and reliability through international cooperation, technology transfer, and joint scientific research. The collaboration combines ground-based measurement campaigns, software improvements, and satellite orbit estimation to deliver better navigation services for government, commercial, and scientific users. As these projects evolve, they are expected to spur further investment in regional GNSS infrastructure, driving downstream benefits for logistics, surveying, aviation safety, and national security domains across participating countries.