The satellites will be capable of visible, infrared, multi-spectral and synthetic-aperture radar imaging.
[3] On 5 September 2008, Aviation Week reported the first launch would be of optical imaging satellites.
It is the first civilian Chinese remote sensing satellite to use a synthetic-aperture radar as imaging instrument.
This S-band synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) was manufactured in Russia by NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
The satellites "provide services concerning environmental protection, natural resources, water conservancy, agriculture and forestry", Xinhua said.