China is upgrading the BeiDou satellite navigation system – its home-grown alternative to the US-run Global Positioning System – as Beijing seeks to expand the network’s industrial footprint and international reach.
The project will focus on replacing older satellites with newer, third-generation models and realigning their orbital paths to allow more comprehensive global coverage, according to a document released by the China Satellite Navigation Office in late March.
The in-orbit upgrade will consolidate BeiDou’s active constellation to 37 satellites from the current 50. Most of them will operate in medium Earth orbit – the same altitude range used by GPS and Galileo – which is essential for navigation systems to provide consistent international coverage.
Of the remaining BeiDou satellites, five will occupy inclined geosynchronous orbits to offer better signal reliability at higher latitudes and across regions. Another four will be in geostationary orbit, covering key regions in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The upgraded constellation will primarily be made up of third-generation BDS-3 satellites, which offer better accuracy and communication capabilities than earlier models.
Thirteen BDS-2 satellites will be decommissioned as part of the upgrade. Meanwhile, five slots in the network remain vacant, leaving space for future expansion.