China continues to upgrade its oceanic surveillance systems with the launch of three new satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Group 04 of Yaogan Weixing-31 satellites launched at 02:20 UTC on 13 March from launch pad 94 of the LC-43 launch complex on a Chang Zheng 4C rocket.<\/p>\n
As usual, Chinese media refer to the new satellites as being used \u201cfor electromagnetic environment surveys and other related technology tests,\u201d and the mission is similar to the Yaogan-31 Group 01, Group 02, and Group 03 launched on April 10, 2018 and January 29 and February 24, 2021.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This designation of the Yaogan Weixing series is used to hide the true military nature of the satellites. In this case, the three satellites are orbited in a flying formation like a type of NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System, considered as the Jianbing-8 military series.<\/p>\n
Designed for locating and tracking foreign warships, the satellites will collect optical and radio electronic signatures of the maritime vessels as well as other information valuable for the Chinese maritime forces.<\/p>\n
This satellite arrangement determines the location of radio and radar transmitters using triangulation and can identify naval units by analyzing the operating frequencies and transmission patterns detected.<\/p>\n