BEIJING – China is all set to incorporate BeiDou Navigation SatelliteSystem (BDS), its homegrown satellite navigation, across multidimensionalplatforms to support the country’s military and political aspirations.
BDS, stated to be rivalling US’ Global Positioning System (GPS), is thefourth global satellite navigation system in the world. Other systems areRussia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo. India too is developingits own navigational system called the Indian Regional Navigation SatelliteSystem (IRNSS), with an operational name of NAVIC.
BDS’s implementation will not only reduce the dependence of Chineseaircraft, vehicles and anti-missile systems on GPS and GLONASS, but alsoenhance People’s Liberation Army capabilities in conducting overseasoperations, sources told *Zee News*.
China has already enforced a mandatory implementation of BDS systems inthe country’s local vehicles in certain areas. It also installed BDSsystems in individual equipments, ships, aircraft and missiles.
”The BDS has both civilians and military applications. For civilianapplications, the system is extensively used in fishery administration,communication and transportation as well as disaster relief.
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To promote security in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China has made itmandatory for all vehicles in Xinjiang to install the Beidou SatelliteNavigation System. In addition, most mainland Chinese mobiles also adoptBDS,” said a source in working with Communications Security Establishment,Canada’s national cryptologic agency.
”BeiDou Navigation Satellite System started provided independentnavigation services over China in 2000 and will serve many countries alongBelt and Road initiative (BRI). Currently BDS covers nearly 30 countriesincluding Pakistan, Egypt and Indonesia,” the source added.
