Since its full deployment in 1994, the Global Positioning System (GPS) has become an indispensable technological infrastructure in modern society.
It plays a crucial role not only in civilian applications such as navigation for transportation and mapping services but also holds a key position in military operations.
However, as a single system provided by the United States, the global nature of GPS services also brings strategic considerations:
If GPS services were interrupted, would missile systems and other weapons worldwide that depend on GPS be left in a "blind flight" state?
The potential impact of a GPS interruption is considered catastrophic.
Firstly, missile systems relying on GPS for precise positioning and navigation would lose critical strike accuracy, which is vital for executing pinpoint-target missions.
Secondly, the operational capability and safety of military aircraft and naval vessels would be severely compromised without effective navigation support.
Furthermore, the coordination and efficiency of global military operations would also be severely affected.
Units may struggle to accurately determine their own positions and the positions of their targets, leading to confusion and delays in mission execution.
This dependence on GPS and its potential vulnerabilities underscore the importance of autonomy in information and navigation systems in modern warfare.
To mitigate the risk of potential GPS interruptions, some countries have taken proactive strategic measures.
For instance, Russia has inherited and upgraded the GLONASS system from the Soviet era to ensure it has comparable global coverage capabilities to GPS.
The 24-satellite network of GLONASS not only meets Russia's military needs but also provides reliable positioning and navigation services in civilian sectors, ensuring efficient military operational capabilities even when GPS is unavailable.
China, another country with a strong military-industrial base, has been actively developing the BeiDou Satellite Navigation System since the early 21st century.
After twenty years of development, the BeiDou system completed its global constellation deployment in 2020, consisting of 55 satellites that provide enhanced services, particularly in Asia and surrounding regions.
The mature application of BeiDou has equipped China not only with precise navigation capabilities comparable to GPS in military operations but also extensively applies to civilian sectors such as traffic management and resource scheduling, providing crucial support for the country's comprehensive development and security.
The establishment of these autonomous navigation systems not only enhances national military capabilities but also signifies technological independence and strategic autonomy in the field of space technology.
Their success serves as a model for other countries, highlighting the need to remain vigilant against external dependencies in critical technological areas, particularly in military technology, where autonomous control means maintaining initiative in complex international environments.
History provides valuable lessons in this regard.
For example, the Gulf War in 1991 demonstrated the importance of GPS as an asymmetric advantage.
The US military significantly weakened Iraq's combat capabilities through electromagnetic interference and GPS intervention.
This spurred many countries, including China and Russia, to accelerate the development of autonomous navigation systems to reduce technological dependencies during critical moments.
While GPS, as the leader in global navigation systems, has brought unprecedented convenience and efficiency, the potential risk of its closure highlights the dangers of overreliance on a single system.
China and Russia's development of independently researched and developed satellite navigation systems not only ensures military operational capabilities in the event of GPS interruptions but also strengthens autonomy and stability in the international strategic landscape.
This practice demonstrates to the world that while enjoying the benefits of globalization and technological advancement, developing core autonomous technologies is crucial for maintaining national security and interests.
Therefore, the future challenge lies in ensuring national autonomy and strategic security in critical technological areas amidst globalization and technological development.
Countries need to continue investing in and enhancing research, development, and application of satellite navigation systems and related technologies to maintain autonomy in information and navigation under any circumstances.
At the same time, international cooperation is crucial in advancing satellite navigation technology development and global security.
Through open sharing and collaboration, countries can collectively address challenges and threats that global navigation systems may face.
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