Yaogan JB-8 naval surveillance triplets

Military ocean surveillance satellite constellationIn servicePending verification

Also known as: JB-8, Yaogan 31

SpaceCHN

Identification silhouette. Not drawn to scale between entries.

Fact cardConfidence · Source

System

TypeMilitary ocean surveillance satellite constellation

Alternative designationsJB-8, Yaogan 31

ProliferationOrigin country only

Satellites27Yaogan 9, 16, 17, 20, 25 triplets and Yaogan 31A–31L, launched 2010–2021Med^[1]

First launch2010Med^[1]

Orbit

Orbit regimeLEOMed^[1]

Catalogued on orbit27Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not. Matched Yaogan-9, 16, 17, 20, 25 and 31 triplets.High^[2]

Active (CelesTrak)27Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med^[2]

Perigee677–949 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Apogee1,229–1,499 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Orbital period107 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Inclination63.35–63.41 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Catalogued satellites · 27^[2]

Name	NORAD	COSPAR	Perigee km	Apogee km	Incl. °	Period min	Status
YAOGAN-9 01A	36413	2010-009A	678	1,498	63.36	107	Active
YAOGAN-9 01B	36414	2010-009B	677	1,499	63.37	107	Active
YAOGAN-9 01C	36415	2010-009C	677	1,499	63.36	107	Active
YAOGAN-16 01A	39011	2012-066A	755	1,423	63.35	107	Active
YAOGAN-16 01B	39012	2012-066B	755	1,423	63.35	107	Active
YAOGAN-16 01C	39013	2012-066C	755	1,423	63.35	107	Active
YAOGAN-17 01A	39239	2013-046A	761	1,417	63.38	107	Active
YAOGAN-17 01B	39240	2013-046B	761	1,417	63.38	107	Active
YAOGAN-17 01C	39241	2013-046C	760	1,417	63.38	107	Active
YAOGAN-20 01A	40109	2014-047A	788	1,390	63.38	107	Active
YAOGAN-20 01B	40110	2014-047B	789	1,390	63.38	107	Active
YAOGAN-20 01C	40111	2014-047C	788	1,390	63.38	107	Active
YAOGAN-25 01A	40338	2014-080A	806	1,372	63.39	107	Active
YAOGAN-25 01B	40339	2014-080B	806	1,373	63.39	107	Active
YAOGAN-25 01C	40340	2014-080C	806	1,373	63.39	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 01A	43275	2018-034A	874	1,304	63.39	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 01B	43276	2018-034B	874	1,304	63.39	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 01C	43277	2018-034C	874	1,304	63.39	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 02A	47532	2021-007A	948	1,230	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 02B	47533	2021-007B	948	1,230	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 02C	47536	2021-007E	948	1,230	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 03A	47691	2021-014A	947	1,231	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 03B	47693	2021-014C	947	1,231	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 03C	47695	2021-014E	947	1,231	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 04A	47854	2021-020A	949	1,229	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 04B	47856	2021-020C	949	1,229	63.4	107	Active
YAOGAN-31 04C	47857	2021-020D	949	1,229	63.41	107	Active

Mean elements at epoch 2026-11-08 or later. Perigee and apogee are computed from mean motion and eccentricity and are approximate. Status follows the CelesTrak active list.

Summary

Triplets of Chinese satellites flying in formation, launched from Jiuquan; the JB-8 series includes Yaogan 9, 16, 17, 20, 25 and 31.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.

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Operators

China

Sources

Yaogan 9, 16, 17, 20, 25, 31 (JB-8), Gunter's Space Page
Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
NORAD GP element sets (current data), CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)
Published/updated 2026-11-08 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-11-08

Change log

2026-11-08 Entry created from cited open sources
2026-11-08 Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 27 catalogued, 27 active.