The Yaogan-30 satellites are positioned in the same orbital plane to enhance tracking capabilities of foreign naval deployments.
China launched the Yaogan-30 constellation of SIGINT satellites which includes 18 operational satellites.
Yaogan-30 satellites do not fly in close proximity but are spaced 120 degrees apart to enhance coverage for geolocation capabilities.
Yaogan-30 is similar to the US Navy’s Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) satellites.
The Long March-2C achieved a 100 percent success rate for Yaogan-30 launches.
Since the first Yaogan-30 launch in 2017, the Long March-2C has placed all 10 groups of Yaogan-30 satellites into their preset orbits with high precision.
The inclination of the Yaogan-30 constellation suggests it may provide frequent revisits for electronic and signals intelligence and for optical and radar imaging in areas close to China.
A Long March 2C rocket launched a group of classified Yaogan-30 satellites and the commercial Tianqi-14 satellite from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
The three Yaogan-30 satellites were launched on a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 2:11 a.m. Beijing time on 2021-05-07.
China launched three Yaogan-30 remote-sensing satellites into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
The Yaogan-30 satellites may become part of the Chinese Chuangxin-5 (CX-5) constellation that is used by the Chinese Navy for military surveillance.
The first Yaogan-30 trio was launched in September 2017.
China launched a seventh group of Yaogan-30 reconnaissance satellites on 2020-10-26.
The 2020-10-26 Yaogan-30 trio joins six earlier groups of Yaogan-30 designated satellites in similar orbits.
The Yaogan-30 constellation could provide frequent revisit capabilities for electronic or signals intelligence as well as optical and radar imaging.
The July 2019 Long March 2C launch carrying three Yaogan-30 group 5 satellites included four grid fins as part of tests for future reusability of newer rocket models.
The two-stage hypergolic Long March 2C lifted off at 11:57 p.m. Eastern on 2019-07-25 carrying three Yaogan-30 (group 5) satellites into a roughly 600-kilometer orbit inclined by 35 degrees.