Appraisal

Mainly owing to the almost global spread of information and communication technologies, the concept of GPS navigation is no longer a novelty. Many Asian states are using such technologies. However, in Asia—being an uneven grouping of failed, developing and successful states—the usage of such technologies is uneven. Three major spacefaring nations in the region, namely, China, Japan and India, have significant stakes in the satellite navigation. All these three states have been significant users of GPS technology for many years. In regard to managing the navigational services, the approach of Japan and India looks almost similar. They want to augment the strength of GPS signals reaching their regions by creating boosting mechanisms and are also keen to develop a separate system catering to their specific regional requirements. China has successfully developed a regional system and is in the process of developing a global navigational system. These states are keen to have independent space and ground segment and user receivers.

In the twenty-first century, the relevance of global navigational networks for civilian uses is undisputed. At the same time, the strategic relevance of such systems for nuclear weapon states like India and China is undisputed. Satellite navigation is an important constituent of ‘network-centric warfare’. Modern-day military power is dependent on access to satellite navigation. Understanding the dual-use nature of this technology, all three states are not only making their individual investments but are also factoring other global navigational constellations in their security calculus. Israel being an advanced military power is expected to a major user of this technology, and their dependence on the US system is obvious.

As the US GPS was an early starter in this arena, various Asian states have derived lessons from the US experience and have the advantage of late starters. Some Asian states are also found making investments in new ideas, and innovative experimentation is under way. India, for instance, is putting a few of its navigational satellites in geostationary orbit when conventional navigational systems station their satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO). Also, these states are making their navigational satellites multipurpose for other inputs like weather.

Asian states are expected to derive the maximum economic benefit from the systems developed by them. On the other hand, participation in a particular global navigational network could also dictate the pattern of future military procurements in the region, owing to compatibility factor. India will benefit from investing in the GLONASS with regard to its SU-30MKI fighter jets, its Brahmos cruise missile systems, the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, the co-development and co­production of a military multirole transport aircraft (MTA) and a fifth-generation fighter plane. In short, the GLONASS system would play a crucial role in supporting India’s aerospace power in the twenty-first century.

The economic interests of China, Japan and India are global in nature. The strategic interests of Japan and India are more regional in nature, but the same is not the case with China. China understands the role of GPS in US economy as well as in its strategic preparedness. It also understands the vulnerability of the US GPS and the likely damage it could cause if blocked. For China, global positioning is not only an instrument for location identification but a means of gaining a tactical as well as strategic advantage over its adversary in case of a conflict situation arising in the Taiwan theatre. The completion of Compass project would give China a significant strategic advantage and also would enhance the commercial utility of its space programme.