India’s Spatial Infrastructure for National Security:
China’s Beidou satellite navigation system is under scrutiny after reports suggested it may have been used by militants during the Pahalgam terror attack in India, raising serious national security concerns for India.
- Spatial infrastructure includes satellite-based systems for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), such as GPS, India’s NavIC, and China’s Beidou.
- Governed by international treaties (e.g., ITU, COPUOS) and domestic space/telecom regulations like India’s Satcom Policy.
- Core Features:
- High-precision real-time tracking and location services. Integration with communication networks and AI-based surveillance tools. Offers Short Messaging Services (SMS), encrypted communications, and location analytics (as in Beidou).
- Role in National Security: Tactical Military Operations: Enables secure communications and troop coordination in surveillance-heavy or mobile-network-denied regions. E.g. Beidou SMS capability was likely used in Pahalgam attack to evade detection.
- Border Monitoring & Drone Navigation: Crucial for precision drone strikes and patrol management.
- Disaster Management & Infrastructure Security: Used in coordination with telecom networks and IoT sensors for early warning systems.
- Cybersecurity Backbone: Supports encryption, network resilience, and secure data routing through quantum-safe protocols.
NavIC & GAGAN Systems:
- NavIC offers indigenous navigation services across India and nearby regions.
- GAGAN augments GPS signals for high-precision use in aviation and defense sectors.
- Defence Space Agency (DSA) Coordinates space-based assets for military use, enhancing surveillance, navigation, and secure communications.
- RISAT & EOS Satellite Series Provide real-time radar imaging for border monitoring, terrain mapping, and disaster response.
