China has recently advanced its capabilities in space-based electronic warfare with the successful launch of nine satellites aboard a Lilian-1 Y18 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China. The launch, which took place at noon on Sunday, included the deployment of three Diting-01 satellites, all of which reached their intended orbits.
Named after a mythical creature known for its ability to identify objects by listening, the Diting satellites are designed to monitor and analyze radio signals emanating from the Earth’s surface. These satellites are capable of detecting a wide range of signals including warship radars, military communications, and electronic jamming devices, and can rapidly determine their precise locations.
The new constellation aims to provide enhanced situational awareness during conflicts by enabling the tracking of adversary assets even when conventional identification systems are disabled. This capability could be employed to locate hidden air defense radars deep within hostile territory or to map out an opponent’s electronic order of battle comprehensively.
Developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology and operated by StarRF, the three satellites represent the initial phase of China’s first commercial signals intelligence constellation. StarRF, established in 2023, has a founding team with backgrounds at Tsinghua University’s Department of Electronic Engineering and experience in companies such as Nokia, Qualcomm, and China Electronics Technology Group. The company plans to expand the constellation to 60 low-Earth orbit satellites capable of sensing radio frequency signals across extensive land and maritime regions.
By placing radio receivers in orbit, this space-based radio frequency sensing technology offers broader coverage compared to traditional ground-based monitoring stations. According to available reports, the Diting satellites likely employ a technique involving simultaneous reception of the same radio signals from multiple orbital positions, enabling triangulation through the time difference of signal arrival to accurately locate emitters.
StarRF intends to offer remote sensing data and analytic services based on electromagnetic spectrum monitoring to a range of sectors including defense, public security, radio management, shipping, transportation, and emergency rescue.
China’s entry into commercial space-based radio frequency monitoring aligns it with several Western nations that have developed similar capabilities. One such example is the U.S.-based HawkEye 360, which launched its first three satellites in 2018 and provides services to defense and intelligence agencies, supporting maritime surveillance and signals intelligence operations. France’s Unseenlabs operates satellites focused on geolocation of maritime and terrestrial signals, while Luxembourg’s Kleos Space, which ceased operations in 2023, had utilized satellite clusters for tracking radio emissions mainly for maritime intelligence and law enforcement.
These companies show close ties with military organizations, reflecting the inherently dual-use nature of space-based radio frequency data. The full extent of the Diting constellation’s capabilities remains unknown, as representatives from Chang Guang Satellite Technology have declined to offer further details, and StarRF has not responded to interview requests.