China is buliding its Beidou Navigation Satellite System

China officially announces that it is building its own Beidou (Compass) Navigation Satellite System. (via Xinhua News Agency: (Chinese) http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2006-11/02/content_5279932.htm?rss=1)
The news is released during Zhuhai Airshow and the system diagram and the important Onboard Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard are displayed in Zhuhai Airshow. I personally think this is the greatest news in the Airshow. This is more important than the demo of JDAM/JSOW of Chinese version (LS-6,FT-1,etc) in Zhuhai . This is a symbol that China is holding the capability of big system warfare.

Three trial Beidou Navigation Satellites have been launched since 2000 and have served lots of civilian and military users in China. The two formal satellites will be launched by end of 2006 or start of 2007. By 2008, Beidou’s service can cover China territory and surrounding Asia/Pacific countries. And it will be gradually expanded to global service. The final Beidou space segment will consist of 5 GEO and 30 non-GEO satellites(35 in total).

Besides passive navigation service, a very useful feature of Beidou system is a Beidou terminal/PDA can send and receive two-way short text message (for authorized users only). CCTV news has shown PLA soldiers in patrol using Beidou teminal to send message to Headquarters.