Skip to main content

BeiDou- The Chinese and Pakistani Eye on the Space

 Global Positioning System (GPS), the most common technology for the tracking and navigation system in modern time in military and civilian use. GPS, initially, was developed as a military navigation system, started in 1973 and it took 20 years to be fully operationalized in 1993. The military version of GPS is known as NAVSTAR GPS used by the US Space force. 24 satellites are revolving around the Earth in different orbits, giving information regarding latitude, longitude, time to good accuracy and claim to be resistance to jamming technologies. GPS has now increased more space in civilian applications as well. The Civilian version of GPS is a software-based application and chipset used for navigation in rural areas and wilderness. It's also useful in an emergency when the traveller becomes off course and unable to understand the way, GPS help him or her to guide a suitable place. The civilian application also includes tracking of endangered species of animals kingdom, tracking of cargo and marine traffics on oceans. However, the birth of GPS is purely for military purpose. 

 

Geolocalisation GPS (Credit- commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: Geolocalisation_GPS_SAT)
Geolocalisation GPS (Credit- commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: Geolocalisation_GPS_SAT)

GPS System worldwide

Many counties have and trying to create navigation consolation around the globe. More than 100 satellites are moving across the globe. These systems normally exist in medium earth orbit. The following GPS and Navigation system has been working across the earth. 

1. Beidou- China- Fully Operational Worldwide

2. GPS- USA- Fully Operation Worldwide

3. Galileo - EU- Partial Operational- Worldwide 

4. Glonass - Russia- Fully Operational- Worldwide

5. NavIC - India- Partial Operational- Regional 

6. Michibiki- Japan-Partial Operational-Regional

There are three segments of GPS. The first space segment is a satellite constellation with multiple revolving around the globe, which collect data and send it to monitoring stations on earth, which is the second segment. Ground stations also responsible for monitoring satellites to remain in the proper orbit. the third segment is user support. It depends upon the user criteria that how much functionality you will have. Civilian user, as not required precise accuracy whereas the Military requires much more accuracy. The first use of GPS in the actual war was tested on the Gulf war in 1990 when the GPS was not completely operational however, America had the upper hand with GPS to have a deep look into enemy territory and vector land and airforces in a more advantageous way. The tactics used by the USA became book trick nowadays. The technologies are now more refine and target acquisition and engagement has been more accurate and precise than ever.

Pakistan and GPS      

Pakistan is a long user of the GPS through F-16s and other weapon platforms, however, Pakistan is not having good relation with America in continuous terms. Therefore, the USA had the power to limit the utilisation of GPS of Pakistani F-16s and other associated weapons platform which including LINTING POD, use for targeting acquisition and navigation POD used for precise bombing and that is not good news for Pakistan. The Pakistani AWACS system Saab Erieye use the American GPS for navigation and target acquisition which later relies on different platforms and control centres on the ground and air.  

Pakistan shifting from a GPS to the Chinese BeiDou System

With the fear of loss of GPS during the war, Pakistan shifted from GPS to the Chinese BeiDou system. As the interoperability with the Chinese platform, which is in abundance in Pakistani inventory. Pakistan, now become the only user of the Military version of Beidou. BeiDou is said to be having more than 33 satellites and much better than GPS. While Pakistan is also having increasingly usage of the Chinese platforms BeiDou is a much suitable choice for Pakistan which guarantee performance in every stage of War. Beidou also gives a performance and accuracy edge over GPS which is around 1cm for encrypted military use. Therefore, Beidou is a much reliable and promising GPS solution for military application in Pakistan.  

Pakistan is gradually shifting to BeiDou for its Missile systems as BeiDou provide free of worry service of Navigation for Pakistan who tested the different delivery system with BeiDou GPS and found more accurate than GPS. Pakistan Armed Forces have developed upgraded LINK  and other software-based communication modules which are Jam prove and more reliable between different platforms within Air, sea and ground and electronic domain of war. With BeiDou, Pakistan is now able to enter the Space Domain as well. The Chinese PGM quality in term of performance has also increased and become more lethal. Pakistan, as an important partner in the security of the region and main ally, enjoys the same level of technological benefits as PLA enjoys. Pakistan is also assembling necessary chipsets within the country so the Technology transfer has also done by the Chinese.    

Two-Way Communication- BeiDou distinct feature 

The BeiDou is now being using by 100 countries and preferring BeiDou GPS. This system is also a key for Belt & Road Initiatives. The BeiDou is also going to multifold the Chinese military capacity. Two-way communication is said to be the most distinct feature which means that if there is no cell phone signal, the user can be sent a message through BeiDou Sattelite for rescue, however, it may be a potential threat to the system itself because the who system can be hacked through malware which can be sent via Sattelite massage. Two-way communication is also enabled the active tracking of anyone through a drone in much dense Electric warfare in which the drone can establish a connection with the satellite if it lost contact with the ground directly and communication re-established through satellite.              

        

     


   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JF-17 BLOCK 3- THE MYTH AND REALITY

 JF-17 BLOCK 3- THE MYTH AND REALITY A fighter plane, who take birth around 17 years ago, now become mature enough to be a reliable beast for the multiple airforces. On 23-March 2003, Co-developed JF-17 Block 1 flew for the first time on the sky of Islamabad. Now, we are in 2021 and after18 years have been passed since then, the JF-17, pride of the Nation, has seen an evolution into Block III, which introduce some interesting innovations and redesigning on the Block II.   JF-17 Block 1 production started in 2005 and was a baseline fighter. Equipment with KLJ-7V1 radar with a range of around 100 Km. The Russian engine RD93 power the plane and came with SD-10 A (PL-12A) BVR and many other PGMs. The plane Lack refuelling pod. The Block I use extensively in the war of terror fought in Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa along with Mirages and F-16s. The performance was fair enough to the training of crew and pilots on the new aircraft. Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) developed productio...
Post a Comment
Read more

From LAC to LOC- TWO FRONT WAR for INDIA

 Two eternal enemies had stunned the world with the Joint Press Release in which both agreed to cool down the hottest line in the world. That Line is known to the World as the Line of Control (LOC). This Line is more than 740 Km long fenced that divide Kashmir valley into  Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK)- Azad Kashmir and Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK)- Maqbuza Kashmir as Pakistani knows it. The terrain is difficult and zigzag where the line goes over the tops to spurs This conflict is one of the oldest conflicts of the world and the line was created after the first war of Kashmir in 1948 in which Gilgit Baltistan and 1/3 of Kashmir became POK & GB. Since then three wars have been fought between both countries. Skirmishes are a normal routine on LOC. All type of weapons used or tried on this Line which includes Artillery, mortar to 9mm bullets.      Section of Pakistan Army on LOC (Credit- The DAWN) Joint Press Release The Joint Press release was issued ...
Post a Comment
Read more

De-escalation or Re-arrangement

 LADAKH is a disputed area covering  59,146 sqKm, bordered by the Chinese Tibet Autonomous region from the east and Kashmir and Gilgit & Baltistan and Jammu & Kashmir to the west. It is the doorway to the Karakoram range where China and Pakistan meet at the Khjrab corridor. The total population of the Ladakh is 274,289 person and the Muslim are in majority with 46%and Buddist are living here at 46% and 40% respectively. The area is mountainous, treachery becomes one of the coldest places on earth with -40 degree in December. The area also has the highest battleground called Siachen where are Batallion strength of Pakistan and Indian guard there post.    The Rock of Peace (Credit- Global Village Space) THE CONFLICT The Conflict is not as old as Kashmir but old enough to complete 50 years. India and China had first fought on Ladakh in 1962 when Aksai Chin was captured by the Chinese Army. since then several standoffs have taken between two countries on small le...
1 comment
Read more