China's Military Satellite Network List Detailed

The People's Republic of China operates an extensive network of military satellites. The list below includes satellites which are known to be dedicated to military use.

Their use includes secure communications, electronic / signals intelligence (ELINT / SIGINT), early warning, ground / earth mapping, data relay and optical / Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) reconnaissance.

Not included are dual-use satellites which may perform some military use, but are not strictly so in nature. Not included therefore are the Beidou navigation satellites.

While not strictly military in nature due to their role in civilian use, the Beidou satellites are a crucial asset to the military.

Shentong strategic communications satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
11/14/2003	Chinasat 20 or Shentong 1-1	CZ-3A	Strategic communications	-
11/25/2010	Chinasat 20A or Shentong 1-2	CZ-3A	Strategic communications	-
05/26/2012	Chinasat 2A or Shentong 2	CZ-3B/E	Strategic communications	-

Fenghuo tactical communications satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
01/26/2000	Chinasat 22 or Fenghuo 1-1	CZ-3A	Tactical communications	-
09/12/2009	Chinasat 22A or Fenghuo 1-2	CZ-3A	Tactical communications	-
09/19/2011	Chinasat 1A or Fenghuo 2	CZ-3B	Tactical communications	-

Shijian 6 dual electronic / signals intelligence satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
09/09/2004	Shijian 6-01A / Shijian 6-01B	CZ-4B	ELINT / SIGINT	-
10/24/2006	Shijian 6-02A / Shijian 6-02B	CZ-4B	ELINT / SIGINT	-
10/25/2008	Shijian 6-03A / Shijian 6-03B	CZ-4B	ELINT / SIGINT	-
10/06/2010	Shijian 6-04A / Shijian 6-04B	CZ-4B	ELINT / SIGINT	-

Shijian 16 electronic / signals intelligence satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
10/25/2013	Shijian 16-01	CZ-4B	ELINT / SIGINT	-

Shijian 11 surveillance satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
11/12/2009	Shijian 11-01	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	-
07/06/2011	Shijian 11-02	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	-
07/29/2011	Shijian 11-03	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	-
08/29/2011	Shijian 11-04	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	Rocket launch failure
07/15/2013	Shijian 11-05	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	-
03/31/2014	Shijian 11-06	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	-
09/28/2014	Shijian 11-07	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	-
10/27/2014	Shijian 11-08	CZ-2C	Infrared surveillance	-

Tianhui earth mapping satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
08/24/2010	Tianhui 1-1	CZ-2D	Earth mapping	-
05/26/2012	Tianhui 1-2	CZ-2D	Earth mapping	-

Tianlian data relay satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
04/25/2008	Tianlian 1-1	CZ-3C	Data relay	-
07/11/2011	Tianlian 1-2	CZ-3C	Data relay	-
07/25/2012	Tianlian 1-3	CZ-3C	Data relay	-

Yaogan / Jian Bing reconnaissance satellites

Launch date	Name	Launcher	Type	Notes
04/27/2006	Yaogan 1	CZ-4B	Synthetic Aperture Radar reconnaissance	Out of service
05/25/2007	Yaogan 2	CZ-2D	Optical reconnaissance	-
11/12/2007	Yaogan 3	CZ-4C	Synthetic Aperture Radar reconnaissance	-
12/01/2008	Yaogan 4	CZ-2D	Optical reconnaissance	-
12/15/2008	Yaogan 5	CZ-4B	Optical reconnaissance	Deorbited
04/29/2009	Yaogan 6	CZ-2C	Synthetic Aperture Radar reconnaissance	-
12/09/2009	Yaogan 7	CZ-2D	Optical reconnaissance	YG2+4
12/15/2009	Yaogan 8	CZ-4C	Optical reconnaissance(?)	-
03/05/2010	Yaogan 9A, Yaogan 9B, Yaogan 9C	CZ-4C	ELINT / SIGINT	Used to locate and track objects by their electronic emissions
08/10/2010	Yaogan 10	CZ-4C	Synthetic Aperture Radar reconnaissance	YG1+3
09/22/2010	Yaogan 11	CZ-2D	Optical reconnaissance	YG2+4+7
11/09/2011	Yaogan 12	CZ-4B	Optical reconnaissance	-
11/30/2011	Yaogan 13	CZ-4C	Synthetic Aperture Radar reconnaissance	-
05/10/2012	Yaogan 14	CZ-2D	Optical reconnaissance	-
05/29/2012	Yaogan 15	CZ-4B	Optical reconnaissance(?)	-
11/25/2012	Yaogan 16A, Yaogan 16B, Yaogan 16C	CZ-4C	ELINT / SIGINT	-
09/01/2013	Yaogan 17A, Yaogan 17B, Yaogan 17C	CZ-4C	ELINT / SIGINT	YG9+16
10/29/2013	Yaogan 18	CZ-2C	Synthetic Aperture Radar reconnaissance	YG6+13
11/20/2013	Yaogan 19	CZ-4C	Optical reconnaissance(?)	YG8+15
08/09/2014	Yaogan 20A, Yaogan 20B, Yaogan 20C	CZ-4C	ELINT / SIGINT	YG9+16+17
09/08/2014	Yaogan 21	CZ-4B	Optical reconnaissance	YG5+12
10/20/2014	Yaogan 22	CZ-4C	Optical reconnaissance(?)	YG8+15+19
11/14/2014	Yaogan 23	CZ-2C	Synthetic Aperture Radar reconnaissance	YG6+13+18
11/20/2014	Yaogan 24	CZ-2D	Optical reconnaissance	YG2+4+7+11
12/10/2014	Yaogan 25A, Yaogan 25B, Yaogan 25C	CZ-4C	ELINT / SIGINT	YG9+16+17+20
12/27/2014	Yaogan 26	CZ-4B	Optical reconnaissance	Succeeds YG5+12+21