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Warp speed for Beidou constellation

28th July 2016 - 10:34 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong

RSS

Last month China’s State Council released a white paper outlining its national Beidou (which translates as Compass) satellite positioning, navigation and timing system.

But it has a wider military role with China and Pakistan forces using it and the system is set to expand.

The document stated Beidou was ‘independently constructed and operated by China with an eye to the needs of the country’s national security and economic and social development’.

Ironically, the white paper made no mention of military use, other than the nod to ‘national security’ in the above excerpt. However, there are obvious military uses for Beidou, especially when we

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Author

Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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