Chinese spy ship Beijixing

	Beijixing on 12 December 2014
History
China
Name	Beijixing ; (北極星);
Namesake	Beijixing
Builder	Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding
Commissioned	Late 1991
Renamed	from Dongdiao (232); (东调);
Identification	Pennant number: AGI-851
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 815 spy ship
Displacement	5,998 t (5,903 long tons; 6,612 short tons), light load; 5,998 t (5,903 long tons; 6,612 short tons), full load;
Length	132.6 m (435 ft 0 in)
Beam	17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
Draft	6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Propulsion	2 × 12PC2-5V diesel engines; Total output: 5,736 kW (7,692 hp);
Speed	37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph)
Complement	250
Armament	1 × twin 37 mm gun; 2 × twin 25 mm guns;
Aviation facilities	Hangar and helipad

Beijixing (AGI-851) is the lead ship of the Type 815 spy ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). She was originally named Dongdiao (232). Her main task is to monitor and analyze electronic signal intelligence. It may also conduct tactical ballistic missile tests, missile trajectory measurement and missile tracking tasks.

Description

She has been modified throughout the years. After modification, the original dish antenna was replaced by three large radomes.

The long bow building is adopted, and the first building extends to the helicopter deck, which not only increases the height of the freeboard, but also increases the space inside the ship. The bow has a slight sheave, and the front section is also equipped with a fender. These measures are to reduce the waves on the deck and make the ship suitable for ocean navigation.

Construction and career

Dongdiao was commissioned in late 1991 after being completed by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipyard, Shanghai. She serves under the East Sea Fleet.

In February 2000, she was first seen off the coast of Japan.[1]

Afterwards, she was renamed Beijixing (851).

It was reported during RIMPAC 2014, she was monitoring the exercise while outside US territorial waters but in the exclusive economic zone of Hawaii.[2]

She was again sent to monitor RIMPAC 2018.[3]

References

"Snooping dragon: China building another spy ship to keep tabs on adversaries". 15 September 2017.
"环太军演，中国船只让美国头痛！". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
"环太军演我军这艘舰船不请自来全程观摩美航母演练|电子侦察船|北极星|环太军演_新浪军事_新浪网". mil.news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 3 July 2021.

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[1] "Snooping dragon: China building another spy ship to keep tabs on adversaries". 15 September 2017.

[2] "环太军演，中国船只让美国头痛！". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.

[3] "环太军演我军这艘舰船不请自来全程观摩美航母演练|电子侦察船|北极星|环太军演_新浪军事_新浪网". mil.news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 3 July 2021.