Soviet Union 1991

France and Germany are still coordinating how to set up an air force base in Croatia, and the Soviet Union has properly solved the task of retaining the last outpost in Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union's economy is indeed facing difficulties, but this does not mean that the Soviet Union will relax in its struggle in the international strategic environment. If it is already beleaguered on all sides, how can it create a stable and harmonious external international environment for its own development.

Marshal Ogarkov, the former director of the General Directorate of Strategic Deception, recently proposed to Yanayev a plan to continue to complete the GLONASS global satellite navigation system. The GLONASS project was a project launched by the Soviet Union in 1976. GLONASS The Sri Lankan system will use 24 satellites to achieve global positioning services, which can provide high-precision three-dimensional space and speed information, as well as timing services. According to the design, the GLONASS constellation satellite consists of 24 satellites in medium orbit, including 21 working satellites and 3 backup satellites, distributed on 3 circular orbital planes. GLONASS and GPS systems are different. GLONASS The GLONASS system uses frequency division multiple access. Each GLONASS satellite broadcasts two signals, the L1 and L2 signals.

"Between 1982 and 1985, we launched 3 simulation satellites and 18 prototype satellites for testing in Baiko-Nur. Since our satellite and electronic design levels are far behind those of the United States, the design of these test satellites The lifespan is only one year. The GLONASS system started in 1985. Officially constructed, from 1985 to 1986, 6 real GLONASS satellites were launched. These satellites improved timing and frequency standards compared to the prototype satellites, and enhanced frequency stability. After that, 12 satellites with further improvements were launched. , but half of the satellites were lost due to launch accidents.”

"By 1987, the GLONASS system had launched a total of 30 satellites, including early prototype satellites, with 9 satellites available in orbit. The future can be said to be bright. The satellites launched in 1988 were further improved versions. This version, now commonly known as the GLONASS satellite, uses three-axis stabilization technology and a precision cesium atomic clock. The design life was further increased to 3 years. From 1988 to 2000, as many as 54 satellites of this version of GLONASS were launched from the Baikonur Launch Center using Proton rockets with one rocket and three stars. It’s in orbit. Now it’s time to further refine the plan for the GLONASS system, General Secretary Yanayev.”

Marshal Ogarkov's fifteen-page report elaborated on the importance of the GLONASS satellite system. However, in Yanayev's view, this fifteen-page report condensed into a short sentence is that they need money, and they still need a lot of money.

It will cost at least US$3 billion to complete the networking operation of 24 satellites, which is undoubtedly a considerable burden on the Soviet Union's finances. When he raised his head and looked at former Commander Ogarkov, he had no doubt that this old man was a spy sent by the United States to bring down the Soviet economy.

"General Secretary Yanayev, I hope you can see the important role that the GLONASS system will play in the future development of the Soviet army. Today, when electronic information technology is becoming increasingly important, our Soviet army also needs its own strategic satellite system. , Comes from the American Global Positioning System," Marshal Ogarkov said confidently. "During the Gulf War, the Americans' global positioning system played a role that cannot be underestimated. From calling for air support to providing precise positioning of Tomahawk missiles, this was basically the result of strategic satellites."

Marshal Ogarkov was a little anxious. Yanayev had promised that he would support the army's informatization transformation no matter what, so improving the global satellite positioning system was the top priority.

"I'm not rejecting your plan, Marshal Ogarkov. But I need time to think about it. Also, what budget do you think this satellite networking plan will require?"

Marshal Ogarkov was silent for a moment and quoted his price. "It may require at least US$3.6 billion in funds, including upgrading and replacing some aging satellites. This is already the most conservative estimate. We also need to solve the problem of the short life of the GLONASS satellite. Calculated this way Come on, 3.6 billion is just barely enough.”

With a capital of 3.6 billion U.S. dollars, even Yanayev took a deep breath after hearing this quotation. If it was still an era when the Soviet Union's economy was developing rapidly, 3.6 billion U.S. dollars would indeed be nothing, but now the Soviet Union With so much money allocated to the Soviet aerospace department at once, the budget was obviously not enough. No wonder the Star Wars program brought down the Soviet economy.

"We will allocate funds for the new round of GLONASS upgrade plan. Marshal Ogarkov does not have to worry about this issue. But we now need a certain amount of time to prepare funds for this plan. And to complete this satellite Networking work and the replacement of old satellites are not actions that can be completed in a short time, are they?" Yanayev said, albeit reluctantly. But Yanayev is very clear about the importance of restarting the GLONASS project now. It will be too late to wait until the Soviet economy has truly fully improved.

If the total budget requires 3.6 billion US dollars, then Yanayev can also consider allocating funds to the Soviet aerospace department in batches.

"Yes." Marshal Ogarkov admitted, "The US$3.6 billion is indeed the budget of the master plan."

"Okay, I think we can always find a way to solve this problem. Isn't it? But even if 3.6 billion is paid in two or three years, it is still a huge burden." On the surface, Yanaev is actually thinking about a new round of arms sales. Arms revenue is always the most direct way to fill a country's finances. For example, there are still two Kiev-class aircraft carriers retired by the Soviet Navy for sale. Yanaev is thinking about which sucker to pay for his plan.

India is obviously impossible. The refit of the Gorshkov aircraft carrier has already made the Indian Navy's funds tight, and there is no spare money to buy a new aircraft carrier. And the countries in the world that can afford aircraft carriers basically look down on the Soviet Kiev class, and countries that cannot afford aircraft carriers will not be interested in the Kiev class aircraft carriers.

Obviously, this is a big problem that Yanayev is facing. However, in order to raise funds for the GLONASS program and reduce the central government's financial burden, Yanayev no longer intends to wait for someone to take the bait. Instead, he directly asked the Soviet Black Sea Shipyard to post a message about selling the remaining Kiev-class aircraft carriers to see who would take the bait. (To be continued.)