India's desi-GPS NAVIC is defunct; strategic capability lost India's indigenous satellite navigation system, NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), has effectively become non-functional, according to publicly available data. The system, designed to provide Position, Navigation, and Timing services for civilian and military users within India and 1,500 km beyond its borders, relies on a fleet of satellites managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Currently, only three of the 11 NAVIC satellites are operational, but even these face imminent failure. One of the three satellites has already exceeded its expected lifespan, and the remaining two are at risk of malfunctioning at any moment. The decline of NAVIC began with the IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System), its first-generation satellite series. Launched between 2013 and 2018, the IRNSS satellites were intended to form the foundation of NAVIC. However, the system faced critical failures from the outset. ISRO admitted that five of the eight satellites launched in this series suffered complete failure of their onboard atomic clocks, which are essential for precise navigation. These failures rendered the satellites inoperable, leaving only three satellites—IRNSS-1B, 1F, and 1I—functioning. Despite initial optimism, the operational lifespan of these satellites has been short-lived. IRNSS-1B, launched in 2012, has exceeded its 10-year design life and is now in its 11th year. IRNSS-1F, launched in 2017, had two atomic clocks fail earlier this year, and its final clock stopped working in March 2026. IRNSS-1I, launched in 2018, is expected to remain operational until 2028, but its status remains uncertain.#indian_space_research_organisation #navic #irnss #nv_s #kargil_war
