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China's Military Technological Milestones - includes China's revolutionary Gaofen-4 geostationary satellite
210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.
1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb on October 16, 1964.
1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb on June 17, 1967.
1970: China successfully sends its first satellite into space - the Dong Fang Hong I
1971: China successfully launched its first DF-5 ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range and capable of carrying a five-megaton "city buster" thermonuclear warhead.
1972: China builds its first atomic clock at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO).
1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.
1986: China built an indigenous DD3 nickel-based single-crystal superalloy. (Earliest English article citation is year 1995. However, the first published Chinese research paper on DD3 discovery was in 1986.)
1988: China test-detonates a 1- to 20-kiloton Neutron Bomb on September 29, 1988.
1988: Julang 1 (JL-1) SLBM is fully operational with the successful test firing from a submerged Xia SSBN in September 1988.
1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.
1998: "At the 1998 Zhuhai Air Show, the [Chinese] Seek Optics Company displayed information of its stealth coating and software for stealth shaping.[63]"
1999: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).
2000: China successfully sends its first GPS satellite (Beidou) into space.
2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.
2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.
2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.
2003*: DD6 is China's indigenous second-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloy (Earliest English article citation is year 2003. However, actual DD6 discovery was probably closer to year 2000.)
2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.
2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.
2006: First static test of the WS-13 turbofan engine with single-crystal turbine blades.
2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.
2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.
2008: China orbits its first data tracking and relay communications satellite - Tianlian I
2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"
2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.
2010: Chinese Yaogan 9 NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) satellite trio in orbit.
2011: Chengdu J-20 stealth superfighter has first flight on January 11, 2011.
2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012.
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).
2012: China's Beidou System successfully covers all of China and the surrounding region.
2012: Shenyang J-31 medium-range stealth fighter has first flight on October 31, 2012.
2012: China builds its first optical clock (which is more precise than an atomic clock).
2012: China's SOSUS became operational.
2013: China's Y-20 heavy-lift military transport conducts first flight on January 26, 2013.
2013: "The Chinese military has deployed its new anti-ship ballistic missile [ASBM or "carrier killer"] along its southern coast facing Taiwan, the Pentagon’s top military intelligence officer said today."
2013: "After a round of successful testing in 2012, the JL-2 appears ready to reach initial operational capability in 2013." (Source [p. 39, Pentagon 2013 report on Chinese Military Power])
2013: China has deployed H-6K "God of War" bomber that is capable of carrying thermonuclear-capable CJ-10 cruise missiles.
2013: Bill Gertz reports China is building 1,240 miles of special tracks for rail-mobile ICBMs.
2013: China deploys advanced SRBM with MARV (maneuverable reentry vehicle) thermonuclear-capable warhead
2013: China's "Lijian stealth UAV from Hongdu has made its first flight on Nov. 21 at 13:00 local time. The flight was 20 minutes."
2013: China's Yutu rover separates from Chang'e-3 Moon Lander on December 14, 2013.
2013: China's Z-20 military medium-lift 10-ton utility helicopter has its first flight on December 23, 2013
2014: China conducts its first HGV (hypersonic glide vehicle) flight on January 9, 2014.
2014: China conducts first flight test of its WS-20 large turbofan high-bypass engine.
2014: Deagel reports China's YJ-18 AEGIS KILLER has reached IOC (ie. initial operational capability) and it is currently an exclusive offensive weapon on the Chinese Type 052D destroyer
2014: China unveils the JY-26 counter-stealth radar at the Zhuhai Airshow. UK radar-expert John Wise says the JY-26 round radomes could be designed to take advantage of circular polarization.
2015: China unveils the Tian Yi 2 (Sky Wing 2) stealth UAV. The Tian Yi 2 is special for two reasons. Firstly, this is the first time that we've seen a Chinese aircraft with a vertical S-duct (ie. serpentine duct) stealth design. In contrast, the J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters both have a horizontal S-duct design. Secondly, the Tian Yi 2 is also the first Chinese aircraft with flat nozzles for stealth in both the radar and infrared spectrums.
2015: China launches its first Gaofen-4 geostationary satellite.
----------
Summary of Gaofen-4 satellite's importance
Gaofen-4 is in geostationary orbit. It is 22,500 miles above the Earth.
Currently, the rest of China's satellites (except for some Beidou GPS satellites) are in LEO (ie. low earth orbit). The Chinese LEO satellites are 100 to 1,000 miles above the Earth. An anti-satellite missile can quickly destroy an LEO satellite.
A geostationary satellite changes everything.
The Gaofen-4 will allow China to target an aircraft carrier before the satellite itself is destroyed. From China to the South China Sea, it is only about 1,000 miles. From China to the United States, an ICBM only has to travel about 7,500 miles. The time needed for China to destroy an aircraft carrier or airburst an ICBM is only a fraction of the time needed for a missile to travel 22,500 miles to reach a geostationary satellite.
1. Gaofen-4 allows China to precisely locate carriers and provide targeting information to China's ASBMs, ASCMs, glide-bombs, and heavyweight torpedoes.
Gaofen-4 will remain operational until carriers are destroyed. The distance to the Gaofen-4 is 22,500 miles. This means Gaofen-4's destruction will come too late. Gaofen-4 would already have provided all of the necessary targeting data to the Chinese weapon systems.
Gaofen-4 is unlikely to be destroyed. The destruction of Gaofen-4 class satellites will render China blind. If China loses the ability to detect American ICBM and SLBM launches then China is much more likely to launch its own strategic thermonuclear weapons before they are destroyed in a surprise attack.
2. A Gaofen-4 satellite over the United States will allow China to monitor the destruction of American cities. Since Chinese ICBMs and SLBMs only have to travel 7,500 miles to their targets, all Chinese ICBM and SLBM MIRV warheads will impact before a geostationary Gaofen-4 class satellite is destroyed.
This will allow China to maximize its destruction of American cities. After a city has been destroyed, thermonuclear warheads already in the air will be re-targeted. Chinese ICBMs and SLBMs that haven't launched will be reprogrammed with new undamaged targets.
Gaofen-4 dramatically increases China's military capabilities. Gaofen-4 gives China the ability to target all American carriers. Equally important, a Gaofen-4 over North America allows China to gather real-time information to maximize the destruction of American cities.
China will likely launch more Gaofen-4 class satellites in the future over Asia and North America for redundancy. It is also possible that China may try to install thrusters on the Gaofen-4 to provide it with evasive capabilities when necessary (to improve its survivability). Finally, China may also build stealth Gaofen-4 satellites.
The impact of Gaofen-4 class satellites cannot be overstated. It provides China with a huge leap in military capability.
Long March 3B lofts Gaofen-4 to close out 2015 | NASASpaceFlight.com
210 B.C. (2,200 years ago): China invents chrome-plating technology during Qin Dynasty under emperor Qin Shihuang.
1964: China detonated a 22-kiloton atomic bomb on October 16, 1964.
1967: China detonated a 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb on June 17, 1967.
1970: China successfully sends its first satellite into space - the Dong Fang Hong I
1971: China successfully launched its first DF-5 ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range and capable of carrying a five-megaton "city buster" thermonuclear warhead.
1972: China builds its first atomic clock at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO).
1984: China built its first cryogenic YF-73 rocket engine.
1986: China built an indigenous DD3 nickel-based single-crystal superalloy. (Earliest English article citation is year 1995. However, the first published Chinese research paper on DD3 discovery was in 1986.)
1988: China test-detonates a 1- to 20-kiloton Neutron Bomb on September 29, 1988.
1988: Julang 1 (JL-1) SLBM is fully operational with the successful test firing from a submerged Xia SSBN in September 1988.
1998: Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon had its first flight. Officially unveiled in 2007.
1998: "At the 1998 Zhuhai Air Show, the [Chinese] Seek Optics Company displayed information of its stealth coating and software for stealth shaping.[63]"
1999: Chinese JSTARS Tu-154M/D Electronic Intelligence Aircraft in service (e.g. Careless B-4138).
2000: China successfully sends its first GPS satellite (Beidou) into space.
2001: Chinese Type 99 Main Battle Tank in service.
2002: China's Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is launched.
2003: China sends its first taikonaut Yang Liwei into space.
2003: China's KJ-2000 AWACS with domestic AESA radar has its first flight.
2003*: DD6 is China's indigenous second-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloy (Earliest English article citation is year 2003. However, actual DD6 discovery was probably closer to year 2000.)
2005: China's Type 052C Lanzhou-class AESA-equipped destroyer entered service.
2006: China's WS-10A turbofan engine certified for production.
2006: First static test of the WS-13 turbofan engine with single-crystal turbine blades.
2007: China clones world's first rabbit.
2007: Chinese direct-ascent ASAT shoots down orbiting satellite.
2007: Chinese DF-31A MIRVed ICBM in service.
2008: China conducts its first spacewalk with taikonaut Zhai Zhigang.
2008: China orbits its first data tracking and relay communications satellite - Tianlian I
2009: Public disclosure of China's 5,000km "Underground Great Wall"
2010: China builds world's-fastest supercomputer Tianhe-1A.
2010: Chinese GBI (i.e. ground based interceptor) shoots down a ballistic missile during mid-course phase.
2010: Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter in service.
2010: Chinese Type 094 Jin-class nuclear missile ballistic submarine (SSBN) in service.
2010: Chinese Yaogan 9 NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) satellite trio in orbit.
2011: Chengdu J-20 stealth superfighter has first flight on January 11, 2011.
2012: China sends its first woman taikonaut Liu Yang into space on a 10-day mission.
2012: Chinese Jialong manned submersible completes world record-breaking 7,000 meter dive.
2012: First sighting of next-generation AESA radar for Type 052C destroyer.
2012: DF-41 10-MIRV-capable ICBM with 12,000-15,000km range had first flight on July 24, 2012.
2012: Chinese Type 056 corvette enters service.
2012: New Chinese thermonuclear-capable IRBM with 4,000km range (to potentially strike Guam).
2012: China's Beidou System successfully covers all of China and the surrounding region.
2012: Shenyang J-31 medium-range stealth fighter has first flight on October 31, 2012.
2012: China builds its first optical clock (which is more precise than an atomic clock).
2012: China's SOSUS became operational.
2013: China's Y-20 heavy-lift military transport conducts first flight on January 26, 2013.
2013: "The Chinese military has deployed its new anti-ship ballistic missile [ASBM or "carrier killer"] along its southern coast facing Taiwan, the Pentagon’s top military intelligence officer said today."
2013: "After a round of successful testing in 2012, the JL-2 appears ready to reach initial operational capability in 2013." (Source [p. 39, Pentagon 2013 report on Chinese Military Power])
2013: China has deployed H-6K "God of War" bomber that is capable of carrying thermonuclear-capable CJ-10 cruise missiles.
2013: Bill Gertz reports China is building 1,240 miles of special tracks for rail-mobile ICBMs.
2013: China deploys advanced SRBM with MARV (maneuverable reentry vehicle) thermonuclear-capable warhead
2013: China's "Lijian stealth UAV from Hongdu has made its first flight on Nov. 21 at 13:00 local time. The flight was 20 minutes."
2013: China's Yutu rover separates from Chang'e-3 Moon Lander on December 14, 2013.
2013: China's Z-20 military medium-lift 10-ton utility helicopter has its first flight on December 23, 2013
2014: China conducts its first HGV (hypersonic glide vehicle) flight on January 9, 2014.
2014: China conducts first flight test of its WS-20 large turbofan high-bypass engine.
2014: Deagel reports China's YJ-18 AEGIS KILLER has reached IOC (ie. initial operational capability) and it is currently an exclusive offensive weapon on the Chinese Type 052D destroyer
2014: China unveils the JY-26 counter-stealth radar at the Zhuhai Airshow. UK radar-expert John Wise says the JY-26 round radomes could be designed to take advantage of circular polarization.
2015: China unveils the Tian Yi 2 (Sky Wing 2) stealth UAV. The Tian Yi 2 is special for two reasons. Firstly, this is the first time that we've seen a Chinese aircraft with a vertical S-duct (ie. serpentine duct) stealth design. In contrast, the J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters both have a horizontal S-duct design. Secondly, the Tian Yi 2 is also the first Chinese aircraft with flat nozzles for stealth in both the radar and infrared spectrums.
2015: China launches its first Gaofen-4 geostationary satellite.
----------
Summary of Gaofen-4 satellite's importance
Gaofen-4 is in geostationary orbit. It is 22,500 miles above the Earth.
Currently, the rest of China's satellites (except for some Beidou GPS satellites) are in LEO (ie. low earth orbit). The Chinese LEO satellites are 100 to 1,000 miles above the Earth. An anti-satellite missile can quickly destroy an LEO satellite.
A geostationary satellite changes everything.
The Gaofen-4 will allow China to target an aircraft carrier before the satellite itself is destroyed. From China to the South China Sea, it is only about 1,000 miles. From China to the United States, an ICBM only has to travel about 7,500 miles. The time needed for China to destroy an aircraft carrier or airburst an ICBM is only a fraction of the time needed for a missile to travel 22,500 miles to reach a geostationary satellite.
1. Gaofen-4 allows China to precisely locate carriers and provide targeting information to China's ASBMs, ASCMs, glide-bombs, and heavyweight torpedoes.
Gaofen-4 will remain operational until carriers are destroyed. The distance to the Gaofen-4 is 22,500 miles. This means Gaofen-4's destruction will come too late. Gaofen-4 would already have provided all of the necessary targeting data to the Chinese weapon systems.
Gaofen-4 is unlikely to be destroyed. The destruction of Gaofen-4 class satellites will render China blind. If China loses the ability to detect American ICBM and SLBM launches then China is much more likely to launch its own strategic thermonuclear weapons before they are destroyed in a surprise attack.
2. A Gaofen-4 satellite over the United States will allow China to monitor the destruction of American cities. Since Chinese ICBMs and SLBMs only have to travel 7,500 miles to their targets, all Chinese ICBM and SLBM MIRV warheads will impact before a geostationary Gaofen-4 class satellite is destroyed.
This will allow China to maximize its destruction of American cities. After a city has been destroyed, thermonuclear warheads already in the air will be re-targeted. Chinese ICBMs and SLBMs that haven't launched will be reprogrammed with new undamaged targets.
Gaofen-4 dramatically increases China's military capabilities. Gaofen-4 gives China the ability to target all American carriers. Equally important, a Gaofen-4 over North America allows China to gather real-time information to maximize the destruction of American cities.
China will likely launch more Gaofen-4 class satellites in the future over Asia and North America for redundancy. It is also possible that China may try to install thrusters on the Gaofen-4 to provide it with evasive capabilities when necessary (to improve its survivability). Finally, China may also build stealth Gaofen-4 satellites.
The impact of Gaofen-4 class satellites cannot be overstated. It provides China with a huge leap in military capability.
Long March 3B lofts Gaofen-4 to close out 2015 | NASASpaceFlight.com
