CZ-4C (Yaogan-16) - JSLC - 25.11.2012

Si l'information se confirme, alors ce sera la deuxième constellation de surveillance océanique chinoise après celle de YG-9 lancé en Mars 2010. Ceci confirmera donc la capacité d'attaque balistique anti-porte-avion par les missiles DF-21D, dont une telle constellation sera un élément clé dans la recherche, la surveillance et la localisation précise des flottes américaines.



Initialement prévu en fin 2011, le lancement de YG-14 semble être reporté à mi-2012.

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2013/0047.html

I have been tracking the progress of Yaogan 16 since launch as noted here:
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Nov-2012/0215.html
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0149.html

A review of the current USSTRATCOM TLEs revealed that the formation
reformed on or about Dec 25th, 2012 after at least two coordinated
maneuvers by the (A) and (B) objects. These maneuvers were followed up
by the (C) object as it maneuvered a number of times to match the mean
motion of the other two. This behaviour was somewhat different than the
commissioning sequence of Yaogan 9 which only maneuvered the 'drifting'
s/c to finalize the commissioning sequence.

The Mean Motion of the formation appears to match that of Yaogan 9
suggesting coordinated use as is suspected by US NOSS.