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This one's positioned as one of the lesser-known races between India and China. Both countries are in the process of launching satellites into space to power homegrown global positioning systems instead of relying on American ones.

Just a few days ago, China successfully launched its 20th satellite into space as part of its plan to build a GPS – the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) – by 2020. Named for the Chinese term for the Big Dipper constellation, the BeiDou project was officially launched in 2012 to provide an alternative to US-operated navigational satellites. China’s GPS satellites are already being used by several Asian countries including Pakistan, Laos and Thailand.

India is not far behind. In March 2015, the country successfully launched a navigation satellite into space using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. “This is the fourth satellite in a constellation of seven and it now gives India the indigenous capability for a satellite-based navigation system, this will help the common man. This will also help India helping the SAARC countries getting the benefits of satellite technology as the signals can help them as well," Minister for Space Dr Jitendra Singh, said.

Besides navigation and messaging, these satellites will be useful for the armed forces in identifying precise location. While the the GPS systems on the phones we use are built on signals from American satellites, most countries, including India and China, obviously want to use their own networks in strategic or hostile conditions. The armed forces will then have secure and precise geographical information.