December 4, 2010: On November 25th, China launched a second Shen Tong-1 military communications satellite. The first one was put up seven years ago. The 2.3 ton Shen Tong-1s are meant to provide the kind of satellite communications modern military organizations require to operate UAVs and provide the secure (encrypted) and reliable communications services needed in a combat zone. The Shen Tong-1s are equipped with anti-jamming equipment and special military communications capabilities.

China is currently upgrading portions of its armed forces to operate widely dispersed, but coordinated by hard-to-jam or eavesdrop on satellite communications. China is just getting started in this area, and currently nations like Britain have more of these satellite capabilities than China does.