China launches its first commercial radio-tracking satellites in electronic warfare leap

China has successfully launched its first commercial radio-tracking satellites as part of an electronic warfare initiative. On Sunday, a Lijian-1 Y18 rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China, carrying nine satellites into orbit. Among them were three Diting-01 satellites, named after a mythical beast that can identify things by listening.

These satellites, developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology and operated by StarRF, are designed to "listen" to radio signals from Earth's surface, detecting everything from warship radars to military communication networks and electronic jammers.

This marks the start of China's first commercial signals intelligence constellation, offering broader coverage and precise location of radio emission sources compared to ground-based monitoring stations. StarRF, founded in 2023 by a team from Tsinghua University and other tech firms, aims to build a 60-satellite low-Earth-orbit constellation for sensing electromagnetic spectrum conditions and providing data analysis services to various sectors, including defence, public security, and maritime shipping.

While the extent and accuracy of the Diting constellation's monitoring capabilities remain unclear, China joins a select group of Western nations with commercial space-based radio monitoring systems. These include American company HawkEye 360, which serves US defense and intelligence agencies, and France's Unseenlabs and Luxembourg's Kleos Space, both focusing on maritime intelligence and tracking.

The launch of these satellites demonstrates China's growing capabilities in electronic warfare and signals intelligence, potentially enhancing its strategic advantage.