MOSCOW, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia will launch six satellites this year to forge an 18-satellite system for nation-wide navigation, and a 24-satellite network for global service will be completed by 2009, the director of the Federal Space Agency said on Monday.

    Anatoly Perminov told an international forum held here on Monday that "at the end of this year we shall launch six satellites and increase the group to 18 spacecraft. A regular orbital group of 24 spacecraft will be deployed by 2009."

    Russia kicked off its own Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), a competitor to the U.S. GPS and Europe's Galileo, in October 1982, when the first satellite of the system was launched.

    So far, 19 GLONASS satellites have been put into orbit, the Interfax news agency said, citing anonymous source with the Central Research Institute of Machine-Building.

    However, only 12 satellites are serving as the mission requires. One is waiting to be put into use, three were shut down for technical maintenance and the other three has been withdrawn from service.

    The GLONASS service now covers 66 percent of Russia's territory and requires 18 satellites in orbit to implement full navigational functions, and 24 satellites for a global navigation service.

    "We shall maintain such group by 2011 with the launch of the new-generation spacecraft GLONASS-K. The GLONASS system is in active development and is being renewed according to a set timetable," Perminov said.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged to take advantage ofthe satellite navigation system for the country's economic development, and First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has claimed that the Russian Federal Space Agency "will fulfill its state-financed obligations" and complete the project.