Airspace Strategic Review

Hybrid Missile Guidance: BeiDou + INS + Terrain Matching Strategic Technology Assessment Modern long-range missiles rarely rely on a single navigation system. Instead, they combine several technologies to ensure accuracy even in environments where satellite navigation signals may be jammed or denied. A plausible architecture for Iranian missile guidance integrates three key systems: • satellite navigation • inertial navigation • terrain-matching correction Together these form a multi-layer guidance architecture designed to maintain accuracy even under electronic warfare conditions. Phase 1 — Launch Guidance (INS Core Navigation) Immediately after launch, missiles typically rely on Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). INS works using internal sensors: • gyroscopes • accelerometers • onboard flight computer The system calculates the missile’s position by continuously measuring motion and acceleration. Advantages: ✔ completely autonomous ✔ immune to jamming ✔ works without external signals ...

Could Iran Be Using China’s BeiDou Navigation System? Strategic Technology Assessment Recent discussions in open-source intelligence circles suggest that Iran may be integrating the Chinese satellite navigation network BeiDou Navigation Satellite System into its missile and drone guidance infrastructure. If confirmed, such a development would represent an important shift in the global military navigation ecosystem. The Strategic Context For decades, most precision-guided weapons relied on signals from the U.S.-operated Global Positioning System. However, geopolitical tensions and the risk of signal denial during conflict have pushed several states to develop or adopt alternative navigation architectures. Major global systems now include: • Global Positioning System – United States • GLONASS – Russia • BeiDou Navigation Satellite System – China • Galileo – European Union Among them, BeiDou has rapidly expanded into a global coverage network capable of supporting both civilian and milita...