As was the case in the last launches of the Yaogan Weixing series, western analysts doubtful this class of satellites is being cast-off for military purposes.
In faithful this rank is lock to the Yaogan Weixing-9 and Yaogan Weixing-16, amid three satellites flying in formation the same as a type of NOSS system.
Time lock to the US level, the triplet comprises an electro-optical intelligence satellite, an insincere minute opening radar (SAR) satellite, and maybe an electronic/signal intelligence satellite.
Intended for locating and tracking different warships the satellites command arrange the visual and radio electronic signatures of the nautical vessels that command be cast-off in conjunction amid other information fatty for the Chinese nautical martial.
Yaogan-9 was launched on Exposition 5, 2010 and Yaogan-16 was launched on November 25, 2012.
This was the 180th successful Chinese orbital open, all of which accommodate cast-off the Chang Zheng open vehicle. It was in the same way the 60th successful orbital open from Jiuquan - the fourth from Jiuquan this time - appropriate the sixth successful orbital Chinese open in 2013.
