CLASSIFIED
YAOGAN-31 02A
Chinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet) · CASC / PLA
Right now
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Lead satellite of the second Yaogan-31 triplet, launched 2021 to expand China's high-altitude ELINT surveillance family that began with the first Yaogan-31 group in December 2018. Operating at 63.4° inclination — the same 'Molniya-critical' geometry used by the Yaogan-25 series — Yaogan-31 satellites provide naval signals triangulation from a substantially higher orbit than the more numerous 35°-inclined Yaogan-30 fleet, giving the PLA layered surveillance across two distinct altitude bands.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 595–766 mi (957–1,233 km)
- Inclination
- 63.4°
- One orbit
- 107.0 minutes13.5 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 47532
- Int’l designator
- 2021-007A
- Launched
- 2021
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 23 Sep 2026.
More classified
- YAOGAN-31 02BChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-31 02CChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-31 03AChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-31 03BChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-31 03CChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)
- YAOGAN-31 04AChinese ELINT Naval Surveillance (JB-8 Triplet)