China launches new navigation satellite challenging US

ANKARA

China launched a third generation navigation satellite on Tuesday as part of its effort to compete with a similar system in the U.S. and EU, local media reported.

This is the 21st satellite of Beidou-3 Navigation Satellite System also known as BDS-3.

It was delivered by a Long March-3B rocket launched from southwestern China’s Sichuan province, state-run Global Times reported.

The latest move takes Beijing one step closer to its ambition to establish a satellite navigation system challenging the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) as well as the Russian GLONASS and Europe’s Galileo.

A total of 46 satellites from BDS have been sent into space.

The BDS started providing global services at the end of 2018 with a 10-meter accuracy globally and a 5-m accuracy in the Asia Pacific region, Yang Changfen, chief designer was cited by Xinhua news agency as saying.

The system is planned to be completed by the end of this year after sending 10 more satellites into space, Xinhua said.

The home-grown satellite navigation system could increase the ability of Chinese submarines and underwater drones to launch more stealth attacks, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported quoting specialists.