Eight days before the tariff hike by Donald Trump, the Brazilian government made a strategic move towards technological independence by initiating the development of its own satellite navigation system—a kind of “generic GPS” with homegrown technology.
The groundwork for this ambitious project was laid down through a resolution by the GSI (Gabinete de Segurança Institucional, Institutional Security Office), approved on July 1st. The resolution mandates the formation of a working group with a 180-day deadline, extendable for another 180 days, to deliver its findings.
The objectives outlined in the resolution are as follows:
- To conduct studies and propose necessary actions for devising a technological development strategy aimed at implementing a Brazilian Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system.
- To assess vulnerabilities arising from reliance on foreign systems.
- To explore various technological pathways and challenges, as well as the existing and required laboratory and industrial capabilities for a domestic system.
- To investigate potential funding options to establish a Brazilian PNT system.
Meetings for this initiative will take place at the Planalto Palace and will include representatives from four ministries: Science and Technology (responsible for coordinating the work), Defense, Communications, and Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, alongside the GSI itself. Additionally, nine other institutions will be involved:
- Air Force Command
- Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency)
- AEB (Brazilian Space Agency)
- INPE (National Institute for Space Research)
- Telebras (Brazilian Telecommunications Company)
- National Laboratory of Astrophysics
- Finep (Studies and Projects Financing Agency)
- CGEE (Center for Strategic Management and Studies)
- Association of Aerospace Industries of Brazil
U.S. to blame
As tensions between Brazil and the United States escalate, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro have been speculating about potential retaliatory measures from Trump, such as the expulsion of Brazilian diplomats and the GPS blockade(which is very unlikely).
Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s during the Cold War, GPS (Global Positioning System) has since become synonymous with satellite navigation, widely used in Brazil for both military and civilian purposes. However, it’s not the only option available; alternatives include Europe’s Galileo, Russia’s Glonass, and China’s Beidou systems.
A close advisor to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) has expressed skepticism about the U.S. imposing a GPS blockade on Brazil, noting that such a measure would typically be reserved for “wartime situations,” rather than as a response to political or trade tensions.
The advisor highlighted that the most significant challenge of a potential GPS restriction would be for satellite-based aerial navigation, given that aircraft predominantly use American technology. In contrast, for the more common civilian uses of GPS, such as transit navigation for passenger transport and goods delivery, adapting to other systems would be considerably easier and would simply involve switching to an alternative technology.
Moreover, the advisor pointed out that such a switch would actually be detrimental to the American technology, as it would mean losing a significant market share in Brazil.
Should Brazil succeed in developing its own satellite navigation system, it doesn’t necessarily need to have a global scale. For instance, it could be designed to cover Brazil or South America alone, providing a localized solution that mitigates dependency on foreign systems.
This initiative not only represents a step towards technological sovereignty but also underscores Brazil’s proactive approach to safeguarding its national interests in the face of international uncertainties. The development of a domestic satellite navigation system could potentially offer Brazil greater control over its critical infrastructure and reduce the risk associated with relying on external technologies, especially in sensitive areas such as defense and aviation.
As the working group delves into its tasks, the world watches with bated breath to see how Brazil will navigate the complexities of satellite technology development while managing its geopolitical relationships. This venture marks a significant milestone in Brazil’s journey towards becoming a technologically self-reliant nation.
Source: CNN
