Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India comes another step closer to becoming Super Power' that was published in Newsband

India comes another step closer to becoming Super Power

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) placed the third Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) spacecraft into orbit. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) deserves to be commended for this feat which would not have been possible without their meticulous preparations and attention to every tiny detail that goes on behind the scenes before each launch. The IRNSS constellation will help India a lot.

America’s Global Positioning System (GPS), with worldwide coverage, is the leader in the field. Russia, for its part, established a similar capability with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). Europe is therefore in the process of putting its own constellation of Galileo navigation satellites in place. China is likewise creating the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.

The IRNSS system will beam accurate navigation signals over India and up to 1,500 km from its borders. ISRO plans to have the remaining satellites in place by the middle of next year. By adding four more satellites, India has the option to extend the area covered by its navigation system.

This is really a proud moment for all Indians. Efforts by our scientists are indeed commendable. This achievement will definitely help us not to depend upon any foreign service. The IRNSS has a huge military significance for us apart from its civilian use in aircraft navigation systems such as our GAGAN.

 Though Russia has given us access to military-grade signals of GLONASS, we can never depend upon it in the changed circumstances of growing affinity between Russia and China these days. Russia and Pakistan are also taking steps to thaw their frozen relationship. If and when a war breaks out, the accuracy of our missile systems may be compromised if GLONASS and GPS signals are switched off as it happened during Kargil when the US did it.

The Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), on board a missile, might itself not provide the accuracy that is needed. With the complete constellation of IRNSS in place, we will obviate our dependence on GPS and GLONASS. Unlike the US, Russia and China, we do not need to have an expensive worldwide coverage. Immediate neighbourhood covering Pakistan and China is enough.

Thus Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System will provide us greater security from our neighboring countries. The successful launch of IRNSS-1A to IRNSS-1C shows that India is going to be independent in satellites also. We can develop indigenous satellites vehicle in feasible price. Only ISRO can do this. As the English saying goes 'Self help is the best help'. On Military and Security matters it is better to be self reliant. Trust in today's world is a very rare commodity.

India is seeing the "Space Revolution". That itself is a testimony of this country's growing significance on global platform. With its own navigational system in the space, India is again among the leaders of the world for yet another reason after MOM. Once the IRNSS becomes functional and devices compatible with it are in the market, it would be definitely a matter of pride for every Indian to own it. This would boost our economy.

But IRNSS is only the tip of the iceberg. Indian scientists will explore more avenues in the days ahead. We can be truly superpower only when we have our own navigation system.