LE BOURGET, France — The Federal Space Agency is asking the government for 402 billion rubles ($14.35 billion) for its Glonass federal targeted program, agency head Vladimir Popovkin said Tuesday.

"We are now completing the draft of the Glonass federal targeted program. We are asking for 402 billion rubles for the program through 2020," Popovkin said.

The funds would be used to maintain the navigational system's satellites and to develop and maintain navigational maps. Some of the funds would also be combined with financing from the regions to develop supplemental technology to make the Glonass system more attractive. Popovkin noted that almost all the agency's previous funding requests had been granted and, should the funds be given out at a slower rate than requested, the agency would find credit.

(Interfax, MT)