CLASSIFIED
YAOGAN-34 01
Chinese Military Reconnaissance (Assessed ELINT) · CASC / PLA
Right now
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Yaogan-34, launched in 2021 into a 63.4° high-altitude orbit matching the Yaogan-25 and Yaogan-31 ELINT triplet regime, but deployed as a single satellite rather than a three-satellite formation. This unusual solo deployment at an otherwise ELINT-characteristic orbit has drawn attention from analysts tracking whether China is testing a next-generation single-satellite naval surveillance capability that might eventually replace the triplet triangulation model.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 658–703 mi (1,058–1,132 km)
- Inclination
- 63.4°
- One orbit
- 107.0 minutes13.5 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 48340
- Int’l designator
- 2021-037A
- Launched
- 2021
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 23 Sep 2026.
More classified
- YAOGAN-34 02Chinese Military Reconnaissance (Assessed ELINT)
- YAOGAN-34 03Chinese Military Reconnaissance (Assessed ELINT)
- YAOGAN-35 01AChinese Military Reconnaissance (Mixed-Sensor Group)
- YAOGAN-35 01CChinese Military Reconnaissance (Mixed-Sensor Group)
- YAOGAN-35 02AChinese Military Reconnaissance (Mixed-Sensor Group)
- YAOGAN-35 02BChinese Military Reconnaissance (Mixed-Sensor Group)