Warp speed for Beidou constellation
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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