Chinese Satellite Firm Denies Ties to the Houthis
Chang Guang Satellite Technology, a Chinese satellite company, denied U.S. accusations of supporting the ongoing military operations in the Red Sea carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthi group, the company told the Global Times.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce alleged that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd had played a direct role in assisting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen by supplying satellite imagery that was later used to identify and target American and international ships operating in the Red Sea.
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Chang Guang Satellite Technology
Based on currently available public information, it is technically unfeasible for any commercial remote sensing satellite network including that operated by Chang Guang Satellite to provide the capabilities required to support real-time targeting of mobile maritime vessels. Due to inherent limitations such as satellite positioning data, revisit frequency, and the present state of remote sensing technology, these systems are unable to deliver up-to-the-minute coordinates necessary for striking moving targets like warships or commercial ships.
Even Planet Labs, the U.S.-based company with the world’s largest fleet of commercial remote sensing satellites, can typically only capture imagery of a specific location once per day. While focusing satellite resources on conflict zones might marginally improve this frequency, it remains insufficient for live tracking or precision guidance of weapon systems against moving targets Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative told the Global Times.