Competition in satellite navigation systems

The emergence of the first satellite navigation systems during the Cold War

Competition in the field of scientific and technological development contributed to the fact that the space race between the United States of America and the Soviet Union became one of the causes of geopolitical rivalry. This has led to significant advances in space technology and has had historical consequences for science, technology and society. During this period, key events took place, such as the launch of the first Soviet satellite Sputnik-1 in 1957 and the American satellite Explorer-1 in 1958, which laid the foundation for modern satellite systems that influenced various aspects of daily life and scientific progress. Thanks to the launches of spacecraft, it became known that signals emanating from satellites can be tracked, so the US Navy, together with the Defense Advanced Research Development Agency and the Johns Hopkins Laboratory of Applied Physics, developed the Transit system (NAVSAT). Subsequently, the Transit 1B satellite, launched in 1960, contributed to the fact that, starting in 1964, the system was used by the US Navy to provide accurate location information to American submarines carrying ballistic missiles. Later, in 1967, this system began to be used for civilian purposes – it was used to conduct research to establish the physical characteristics of oceans and seas, as well as in geodesy. Against this background, the USSR decided to develop its own system, which would not only be competitive with American projects, but also in demand in order to ensure technological sovereignty. The first Soviet navigation satellite Kosmos-192 ("Cyclone") was launched in 1967 and, similar to the satellite from the United States, was intended to provide information and communication to units of the Navy. Subsequently, the USSR developed spacecraft of the "Parus" series, which were also used in navigation of Soviet warships and submarines. At the same time, on the basis of "Parus", the Design Bureau of Applied Mechanics developed the "Cicada" system, designed to provide communication and navigation for civilian naval vessels. In the early 1970s, both countries began designing improved versions of existing systems. In 1973, the US Department of Defense announced the launch of the Defense Navigation Satellite System (DNSS) program, which was later renamed Navstar GPS, and launched the process of combining navigation satellite technologies of military departments.

The Navy, the Air Force and the Army participated in the implementation of the program, since it was necessary to meet the needs of all armed forces with the help of a navigation system: for the Navy, the Air Force and the Army, a system was required that could provide data on the exact location of targets for warhead launches and pinpoint strikes, and it would also provide a stable link for communication and coordination of actions at different levels. In the period from 1978 to 1985, the United States was able to put into orbit and establish communication with ten satellites of the first "Block-1" group.

At the same time, Soviet scientists improved their own GNSS, pursuing the same goals as Washington – to expand the scope of navigation technologies. In 1976, the Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR "On the deployment of the Unified GLONASS Space Navigation System" was signed, and in 1982 launches of the "Uragan" series satellites with the domestic GNSS system were carried out.

The promotion of geopolitical claims through outer space

For the correct and effective functioning of satellite navigation systems, it is required not only to launch a spacecraft and geographically increase the signal coverage area, but also to build the necessary infrastructure for information collection and data transmission. Although the technical characteristics of GPS and GLONASS are almost identical, there are differences, one of which is the coverage area – due to the territorial extent and number of Russian facilities and complexes providing uninterrupted communication channels, Russia has the ability to cover the northern hemisphere to a greater extent than GPS. And since GNSS is used for navigation, including merchant ships, and such an important economic corridor as the Northern Sea Route is located in this region, the Russian system may be in demand from other participants in foreign trade relations or extractive enterprises.

Despite this the Chinese navigation satellite system BeiDou is considered the main competitor of the american system. The need for its development arose against the background of the use of GPS by the US forces during the conflict in the Persian Gulf in 1990-1991 as a tool for conducting coordinated combat operations and delivering precision strikes. According to the "three-stage" system development strategy, work on BeiDou was carried out in 3 phases. In the period from 2000 to 2003, 3 satellites were launched, which marked the end of the first "test" phase. As part of the second phase in 2014, the Chinese system covered the entire country. The final step of this strategy was to ensure global coverage of the system – this happened in 2020.

A significant difference between BeiDou and GPS and GLONASS is the presence of two-way data exchange technology in the Chinese system: while other GNSS only transmit signals, BeiDou has the ability to both send and receive information. Such a feature may allow the system to determine the location of data transfer users. For example, this is applicable when it is necessary to respond promptly to emergencies or when conducting combat operations. However, according to American analytical centers, the BeiDou satellite system will be able to track the location and movement of individual individuals, as well as introduce malicious software, which will eventually negatively affect the digital and state security of the United States.

The economic aspect of the competition between GPS and BeiDou is equally important. In the United States of America, it is feared that China will strengthen its presence in other countries, including through satellite navigation and appropriate ground-based complexes. Thus, as part of the "Belt and Road" initiative, China is implementing infrastructure in many projects, the ultimate goal of which is to strengthen China's international influence and position. However, there is a risk that in the future, technologies, innovative products, power grids, and communication tools such as 5G communication towers invested in countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and others will operate only through BeiDou, thereby reducing the percentage of alternative systems used and emphasizing China's economic superiority.

In addition, as part of the Roadmap for Cooperation in the field of satellite navigation for 2021-2025, at the end of 2022, China and Russia signed an agreement on the mutual deployment of ground navigation stations for BeiDou – in Obninsk, Irkutsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – and GLONASS – in Changchun, Urumqi and Shanghai. Ultimately, such a project should lead to an increase in the accuracy and reliability of satellite systems from a technical point of view and strengthen further economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

Navigation satellite systems of other countries

The United States competed not only with the technology of major geopolitical rivals, but also with ideological allies. In particular, GPS was opposed by the European Galileo system, which was put into operation only in 2016. At the initial stages of development in the 2000s, Washington feared that an independent system could later be used against US facilities or their allies, since the data transmitted through this system was not filtered by "selective accessibility", but was transmitted to all civilian GNSS users. However, in 2004, the United States and EU countries signed an agreement "On the promotion, provision and use of GPS and Galileo satellite navigation systems", thereby making the technologies of all parties available for common use.

Competition in the GNSS field has caused significant advances in technology development, which has led to increased accuracy, reliability and diversification of services provided. However, the rivalry also highlights the countries' current strategic interests and potential tensions between them. States are investing heavily in their capabilities in the field of satellite systems to protect critical infrastructure, support military operations and establish their presence in the global technological landscape. In turn, the trend towards developing countries' own new systems indicates a desire to reduce dependence on other GNSS and, possibly, to reach the international level.