China has successfully pushed three, new, remote sensing satellites into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The satellites — members of the Yaogan-30 family and for incorporation into the Chuangxin-5 (CX-5) constellation — were launched by a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 11:57 a.m. (Beijing Time). The satellites have entered their planned orbits and will be used for electromagnetic environment detection and related technological tests — analysts, however, believe these smallsats are designed for military intelligence and image capture and scrutiny.

This launch was the 308th mission of the Chinese Long March rocket series.