Leveraging IRNSS for Indian Defence: A Sustainable Strategic Advantage

?

The significance of an indigenous satellite-based navigation system for the Indian defence environment cannot be overstated. This recognition was further pronounced because of the inability to rely on foreign-controlled systems during critical situations, such as the denial of GPS data by the United States during the Kargil conflict in 1999. India has thus developed its regional satellite navigation system, known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

What is IRNSS?

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also referred to as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation, meaning ‘sailor’ or ‘navigator’ in Hindi), is a regional satellite navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The proposal for the development of the project was approved by the Indian government in 2006 and the first satellite under it, IRNSS-1A, was launched on 1 July 2013. IRNSS has a constellation of seven satellites and covers the Indian subcontinent and up to 1,500 kilometres beyond its borders, offering precise location and time data. With an expected position accuracy of better than 20 m in the primary service area, this Indian-origin satellite system has several applications, including:

1.???? Disaster Management

2.???? Mapping and Geodetic Data Capture

3.???? Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation

4.???? Vehicle Tracking and Fleet Management

5.???? Integration with Mobile Phones

6.???? Terrestrial Navigation Aid for Hikers and Travellers

7.???? Visual and Voice Navigation for Drivers

How does IRNSS Work?

The satellite system consists of three segments: Satellites (space segment), Ground Stations (ground segment), and Users (user segment). In the space segment, IRNSS consists of 7 satellites, out of which four are in the Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) and three in the Geostationary Orbit (GEO). Out of the 4 GSOs, two of them cross the equator at 55°E and two at 111.75°E, and the 3 GEOs are located at longitudes 32.5°E, 83°E, and 131.5°E. The Ground segment has the tasks of maintaining and operating the IRNSS constellations. It also helps user receivers (user segment) with location calculation by sending navigational details to satellites for uplink.

IRNSS is currently built to provide two types of services, viz., Standard Positioning Service (SPS), which will be available to all users, and secondly, an encrypted service called Restricted Service (RS), which will be provided only to authorized users. Both the SPS and RS signals are transmitted by the navigation payload on L5 & S Bands.

How is IRNSS Different from GPS?

One of the most fundamental differences between GPS and IRNSS is that GPS has a total of 24 functional satellites globally whereas IRNSS has 7 but covers the entire Indian subcontinent in a 1500-kilometre radius. This implies that all 7 satellites are constantly visible to the ground receivers, especially with the help of the 4 satellites in the geosynchronous orbit. Furthermore, while GPS only uses L-band transmissions, NavIC uses both L and S bands, which have the ability to deliver more than 5 meters of precision.

Another additional feature of the NavIC system is its messaging interface that enables the command centre to transmit alerts and messages via satellite to receivers which could be utilized to communicate rescue information or weather updates. Thus, IRNSS has the potential to outperform traditional GPS systems in terms of accuracy and precision, leveraging which can improve the operational efficacy of the Indian defence technology systems.

Is Using IRNSS for Indian Defence Technology more Advantageous?

Utilizing IRNSS as the foundational satellite for Indian defence technological solutions has countless benefits, including enhancement of our nation's self-reliance and operational capabilities for military applications. Since IRNSS has been developed to be interoperable with other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, Indian defence technology systems can smoothly incorporate IRNSS signals into existing frameworks and platforms.

Additionally, IRNSS can provide an encrypted and safe navigation signal, reducing the likelihood of common modern combat tactics such as signal spoofing or jamming and thus enhancing the security of Indian defence technology systems. Furthermore, there is credible evidence to support the benefits of merging IRNSS data with current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in the paper, "Augmentation of GNSS Utility by IRNSS (NavIC) Constellation over the Indian Region". The study shows notable improvements in location accuracy by integrating IRNSS with GNSS, underscoring its crucial significance in Indian defence, commercial, and general applications.

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) emerges as a strong pillar in India's pursuit of self-reliance (or “Aatmanirbharta”) and technological expansion in the defence sector. Thus, integrating IRNSS into India's defence technology systems has huge potential to boost efficiency in terms of operation, autonomy, and strategic placement.