1. The US supplying GPS guided weapons to Ukraine
The US Biden administration decided to supply to Ukraine HIMARS GPS-guided missile systems.
HIMARS can launch GPS-guided missiles that fly and hit targets precisely because they are guided by GPS signals. [1]
Also, the US has already supplied to Ukraine M777 howitzers which can fire “Excalibur” shells. Excalibur shells are GPS-guided shells that fly and hit targets precisely.
Reportedly, a Russian armored unit have been completely destroyed by Ukraine’s artillery shelling of GPS-guided shells while trying to cross a river.
2. The possibility of Russia’s attack against US GPS constellation
The US supplying to Ukraine HIMARS GPS-guided missile systems and M777 howitzers with GPS-guided shells could motivate Russia to destroy US’s GPS satellite constellation.
Actually, the Kremlin already warned it could blow up 32 GPS satellites with its new anti-satellite technology, ASAT in November 2021. [2]
Russia could destroy EU’s GPS satellite constellation called Galileo too.
If Russia destroys US & EU’s GPS satellite constellations, the US and NATO’s GPS-guided precision weapons including JDAM, cruise missiles and so on will not work at all.
Without GPS-guided precision weapons, the US & NATO military’s fighting capabilities will be reduced to the level of the Second World War or Korean War or Vietnam War at best.
Without GPS guidance, US & NATO military aircraft will have to use free-fall bombs whose target hitting rate is extremely low.
Russia has its own GPS satellite constellation called GLONASS. China has her own GPS satellite constellation called BeiDou.
Thus, Russia and China could keep using their GPS-guided precision weapons although the US would most likely try to attack and destroy Russian and Chinese GPS satellite constellations.
Russia and China would be prepared to and probably have already deployed defensive satellites or systems for their GPS satellite constellations.
Eliminating the US & EU’s GPS constellations, Russia could possibly overwhelm the US & NATO military forces even without using nuclear weapons.
3. Russia’s destroying GPS constellation will help China’s forceful reunification with Taiwan
If Russia destroys the US & EU’s GPS satellite constellations, it will have an effect of enhancing China’s strategic position against the US over the Taiwan issue.
As China’s “aircraft killer” ballistic missiles hold the entire East & South China Sea within their range, US Navy’s surface ships cannot come close to Taiwan. The only type of US naval ships that can be operative in the area of Taiwan would be submarines.
However, without GPS, US submarines’ Tomahawk missiles will be useless as they can’t be guided to targets.
Therefore, US Navy would not be able to intervene Taiwan crisis, much less Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force or Australian Navy would.
Without US, Japanese and Australian naval supports, Taiwan will be completely blockaded by China’s navy and quickly lose its fighting capability and surrender.
4. Political downside of Russia’s destroying US GPS constellation
Given the wide range of benefits that the US & EU’s GPS systems provide to the world, Russia will be strongly blamed by many countries if it destroys the US & EU’s GPS constellations.
However, military advantages that can be achieved by destroying GPS constellations would outweigh political disadvantages that will be inflicted upon Russia.
And, even if Russia doesn’t destroy the US & EU’s GPS constellations, China could destroy them in case China should be forced to embark on forceful reunification with Taiwan, given the US & EU’s hostile attitudes against China on the Taiwan issue.
After all, all is fair in a war.
Thank you.
References:
(1) "Biden Decoded: Ukraine Will Get HIMARS Rocket Systems, But Not Long-Range Missiles", May 31st 2022, Forbes
(2) "Russia Threatens to Destroy U.S. GPS Satellite Constellation", December 1st 2021, Parabolic Arc
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect nor represent the policy or position of any government, party, or organization.
The US Biden administration decided to supply to Ukraine HIMARS GPS-guided missile systems.
HIMARS can launch GPS-guided missiles that fly and hit targets precisely because they are guided by GPS signals. [1]
Also, the US has already supplied to Ukraine M777 howitzers which can fire “Excalibur” shells. Excalibur shells are GPS-guided shells that fly and hit targets precisely.
Reportedly, a Russian armored unit have been completely destroyed by Ukraine’s artillery shelling of GPS-guided shells while trying to cross a river.
2. The possibility of Russia’s attack against US GPS constellation
The US supplying to Ukraine HIMARS GPS-guided missile systems and M777 howitzers with GPS-guided shells could motivate Russia to destroy US’s GPS satellite constellation.
Actually, the Kremlin already warned it could blow up 32 GPS satellites with its new anti-satellite technology, ASAT in November 2021. [2]
Russia could destroy EU’s GPS satellite constellation called Galileo too.
If Russia destroys US & EU’s GPS satellite constellations, the US and NATO’s GPS-guided precision weapons including JDAM, cruise missiles and so on will not work at all.
Without GPS-guided precision weapons, the US & NATO military’s fighting capabilities will be reduced to the level of the Second World War or Korean War or Vietnam War at best.
Without GPS guidance, US & NATO military aircraft will have to use free-fall bombs whose target hitting rate is extremely low.
Russia has its own GPS satellite constellation called GLONASS. China has her own GPS satellite constellation called BeiDou.
Thus, Russia and China could keep using their GPS-guided precision weapons although the US would most likely try to attack and destroy Russian and Chinese GPS satellite constellations.
Russia and China would be prepared to and probably have already deployed defensive satellites or systems for their GPS satellite constellations.
Eliminating the US & EU’s GPS constellations, Russia could possibly overwhelm the US & NATO military forces even without using nuclear weapons.
3. Russia’s destroying GPS constellation will help China’s forceful reunification with Taiwan
If Russia destroys the US & EU’s GPS satellite constellations, it will have an effect of enhancing China’s strategic position against the US over the Taiwan issue.
As China’s “aircraft killer” ballistic missiles hold the entire East & South China Sea within their range, US Navy’s surface ships cannot come close to Taiwan. The only type of US naval ships that can be operative in the area of Taiwan would be submarines.
However, without GPS, US submarines’ Tomahawk missiles will be useless as they can’t be guided to targets.
Therefore, US Navy would not be able to intervene Taiwan crisis, much less Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force or Australian Navy would.
Without US, Japanese and Australian naval supports, Taiwan will be completely blockaded by China’s navy and quickly lose its fighting capability and surrender.
4. Political downside of Russia’s destroying US GPS constellation
Given the wide range of benefits that the US & EU’s GPS systems provide to the world, Russia will be strongly blamed by many countries if it destroys the US & EU’s GPS constellations.
However, military advantages that can be achieved by destroying GPS constellations would outweigh political disadvantages that will be inflicted upon Russia.
And, even if Russia doesn’t destroy the US & EU’s GPS constellations, China could destroy them in case China should be forced to embark on forceful reunification with Taiwan, given the US & EU’s hostile attitudes against China on the Taiwan issue.
After all, all is fair in a war.
Thank you.
References:
(1) "Biden Decoded: Ukraine Will Get HIMARS Rocket Systems, But Not Long-Range Missiles", May 31st 2022, Forbes
(2) "Russia Threatens to Destroy U.S. GPS Satellite Constellation", December 1st 2021, Parabolic Arc
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect nor represent the policy or position of any government, party, or organization.