At 0220 GMT on 13 March 2021, a Long March 4C (CZ-4C) launch vehicle successfully launched three Yaogan 31-04 satellites (Yaogan 31-04 A,B & C) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. Officially the satellits are for measurement of the electromagnetic environment, but are thought by Western analysts to be military signals intelligence satellites uses to track down surface naval fleets. China refuses to admit to having military satellites in orbit.
Sally Hylands contributed to this report.
