undefined | Better HN

0 pointscalcifer7y ago0 comments

> To claim that the primary purpose of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NAVIC) is for belligerent activities is to claim knowledge of the intentions of the Indian government at the time of the system's creation.

Sounds like you didn't read the article:

> It is a culmination of 17 years of rigorous work by Indian space scientists. India took a firm decision on IRNSS in 1999 after the US government refused to share GPS data that would provide vital information on Pakistani troops position during Kargil war.

0 comments

igravious7y ago

I did read the article. I'm not disagreeing that military matters motivated India's decision. I'm merely arguing against the claim that it was their primary motivation. I'm certain it was a large/significant factor, I doubt it was the only factor. There are so many other beneficial reasons to pursue this tech, some of which I enumerated. Consider Galileo.

lifeisstillgood7y ago

It is of course hard to determine what is primary motivation for any large decision. But imagine a scenario where the US GPS system was somehow banned from military use. would it have been funded? I don't think so. And the same can be said for India and China and Europe's versions. Somewhere in the decision making is a desire to have this in case the bullets start flying - and that motivation is (IMO) sufficiently large that without it, it's dubious the decades long investments would have occurred.

No we cannot be certain, yes the peaceful benefits are many (cf US GPS) and it is of course right and proper that India takes steps she sees as necessary for her own defence.

But it is still a mixed emotion - optimism and sadness, joy and regret.

It's not an attack on the plans of nations to raise themselves up. It's just sad that humans are so brilliant and so dumb at the same time

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse