| Function | System | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | BeiDou-3 | Global since 2020; a combination of MEO, GEO and inclined geosynchronous orbits; can also send short messages |
| Reconnaissance | Yaogan series | Optical, radar (SAR) and SIGINT triplets for locating ships |
| Commercial imagery | e.g. Jilin-1 | Large commercial constellation that is also militarily useful |
| Data relay | Tianlian | Relaying data from satellites in LEO |
| Broadband | Guowang and Qianfan | Two mega-constellations, each planned with more than ten thousand satellites; launches since 2024 |
According to American estimates (2025) China has more than a thousand satellites in orbit, a large share of which are suitable for reconnaissance. The pace of the build-up is the most striking feature of the Chinese space programme.