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Issue 136

06 Flash · Free Issue · Integrity Flash 2025 · Members Only

Article Review: How China’s Satellite Systems Strengthen its Missile and Hypersonic Forces

25 Nov 2025: Tahir Azad published an article in Small Wars Journal describing China’s “growing satellite networks, which include navigation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), communications, and missile early warning, are creating a ‘kill web’ in space that makes it easier for the PLA’s missile and…

Author Greg Gillinger Published December 22, 2025

25 Nov 2025: Tahir Azad published an article in Small Wars Journal describing China’s “growing satellite networks, which include navigation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), communications, and missile early warning, are creating a ‘kill web’ in space that makes it easier for the PLA’s missile and hypersonic forces to find and shoot down targets.” Excerpts below.

– “Beijing views space integration as the key to achieving information dominance and missile precision, giving it a decisive edge in both deterrence and strike capability.”

– “BeiDou-3 (BDS-3) global navigation network now offers very accurate positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT)…the PPP-B2b service is broadcasting from GEO with real-time positioning accurate to the decimeter level (after convergence).”

– “Ludi Tance-4, the world’s first GEO-based SAR, and Yaogan-41, a high-resolution GEO optical platform, together give us constant, weather-independent views of large ocean and coastal areas…these platforms fuse imagery and signals intelligence into a seamless targeting web that


  • enables rapid detection, tracking, and strike coordination across maritime and terrestrial theatres.”- “Yaogan-30 satellites, which are often launched in groups of three, are thought to do ELINT and geolocate ships by measuring the time and angle difference of arrival of their radio emissions…They are used for ocean surveillance and anti-ship targeting. This network tells other sensors and shooters what to do, which lets them kill moving targets like carrier groups and logistics convoys.” Editor’s note: I think the author is actually referring to Yaogan-31.

    – “Open-source analysts link the Tongxin Jishu Shiyan (TJS) series in GEO to missile early-warning tests (Huoyan-1) and signals intelligence, which is another part of a growing strategic ISR and warning system.”

    – “GEO ISR at scale (SAR + optics)…is perfect for cueing salvos of DF-26/DF-27, timing land attacks and anti-ship strikes, and keeping track of logistics that are spread out.”

    – “Guowang & Qianfan aim to provide resilient C2 for distributed forces and unmanned swarms, mirroring lessons from Starlink’s battlefield utility in Ukraine.”

    – “Hypersonic-space integration, which includes BDS-3 PNT, space-based ISR cueing, and early warning for missiles, makes it possible to quickly change targets and make decisions more quickly.”

    – “The U.S. no longer has an unchallenged edge in precision PNT, exquisite ISR, or sovereign broadband low-Earth orbit (LEO) networks.”

    – “China has combined its satellite systems into a powerful force multiplier for missile and hypersonic capabilities. These include BDS-3 for precision, GEO/LEO ISR for persistent targeting, mega-constellations for reliable communication, and counterspace tools to block enemy vision.”