The People’s Republic of China (PRC) deployed the Liaowang-1, its newest maritime space tracking and intelligence vessel. It marks both a technological leap forward for the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) naval capabilities as well as a strategic assertion of Chinese interests in space and naval domains. The Liaowang-1 is designed to monitor military satellites, track missile launches, and function as a mobile command and control (C2) centre for space and naval operations. This new class of tracking ships will replace the Yuan Wang-class ships, which have been in service since 1977. [source]
In recent years, Beijing has been actively investing in its fleet and now constitutes the world’s largest Navy in terms of total ship count. The deployment of the Liaowang-1 happens amid US efforts to enhance their space capabilities by deploying 160 satellites into space by the end of 2025. [source, source]
1 History of the Project
The Liaowang-1 is a component of China’s larger space and military development goals. Beijing is gradually replacing the outdated Yuan Wang-class ships–in service since the late 1970s–with the new ships. Liaowang-1, is constructed by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), and is the result of decades of advancements in space tracking and maritime surveillance technologies. Amid rising international tensions and China’s growing emphasis on fusing the space and marine domains for strategic benefit, the ship was officially launched in 2023. Its advanced capabilities embody the trend towards a tighter integration of space operations with naval activities. [source, source]
1.1 What is a Tracking Ship?
A tracking ship is an intelligence collection vessel that is equipped with antennas and electronic systems to track missile launches (including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)), rockets, and satellites. As missiles and satellites often cross vast oceanic areas, tracking ships extend the reach of land-based radar by overcoming geographic and curvature limitations. Equipped with sophisticated sensors, these ships collect telemetry data, monitor trajectories, and provide real-time C2 support for military operations. They can also enhance electronic intelligence (ELINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities by gathering information on adversary communications and radar emissions. [source]
2 Technical Data
Many of the technical parameters of the Liaowang-1 are unknown to the public, however, available information suggest the following characteristics:
- Displacement: 30,000 tons
- Length: 224 meters
- Beam: 32 meters
- Equipment: At least five (visible) radar domes with high and low-range radars, high-gain antennas, signal processing systems; likely other sensors, telemetry receivers, and ELINT/SIGINT systems on board. [source, source]
The ship’s scale and enlarged hull reportedly allow it to host more systems and be more resilient against threats. Its helipad can support medium-lift helicopters, allowing for better logistics, surveillance, and potential search and rescue capabilities. With its large displacement, the Liaowang-1 is one of the largest non-combatant ships in the Chinese Navy. [source]
That said, the specific data about the technology used remains classified. It is thus difficult to assess how well the ship would perform in a real combat scenario.
3 Mission
As a tracking ship, the Liaowang-1’s mission scenario will likely involve the provision of a mobile, sea-based platform to track satellites, missiles, ICBMs, and other space assets in real-time. Given the geopolitical tensions between the PRC and the US in the South China Sea and the Pacific, this vessel can be a counterbalance to Washington’s increasing space assets and its upcoming Golden Dome missile defense project. [source]
The ship’s sophisticated sensors will allow it to enhance PLAN’s situational awareness and surveillance in international waters, beyond the coverage of its mainland stations. By acting as a C2 node for Beijing’s military, it can facilitate electronic warfare and anti-satellite (ASAT) operations and potentially collect acoustic and electromagnetic data. [source, source]
Equally important, this forward-deployed intelligence asset serves as a dominant tool for strategic power projection and Beijing’s determination to contest its adversaries far beyond its own borders.
3.1 Role in China’s Maritime Strategy
China’s current maritime strategy is transitioning away from its previously near-coastal focus to a more assertive posture. This allows the PLAN to operate further away from its territorial waters to defend its global interests, access to resources, and foreign markets. Beijing seeks to build a blue-water navy to operate far from its borders for economic and geopolitical advantages. [source]
The Liaowang-1 can support this strategy by enhancing PLAN’s capabilities to protect critical infrastructure and secure key chokepoints. Its Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities allow the PRC to build out its integrated anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) area and challenge US dominance, particularly around Taiwan and in the wider region of the South China Sea.
4 Conclusion
The Liaowang-1 signals Beijing’s intent to be a key player in maritime and space domains, further enhancing its growing intelligence capabilities. As a mobile space surveillance platform, it can help monitor US satellites and missile launches, providing a strategic edge in a potential conflict.
The ship is part of China’s broader maritime strategy to project power globally and integrate space and naval assets into its defense components. Additionally, it portrays the growing importance of multi-domain warfare, where domains such as space and sea grow more intertwined and complex.
