The FengHuo 1 (FH-1) is China’s first tactical military communications satellite designed by Beijing-Based China Academy of Space Technology (CAST, also known as 5th Space Academy) to provide secured digital communication of data and voice for a theatre-level command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) network. Using a commercial name ZhongXing 22 (ChinaSat 22), the first FH-1 satellite launched in January 2000. The second FH-1 satellite, known as ZhongXing-22A (ChinaSat 22A) was launched on 13 September 2006.
Chinese state media briefly reported the launch of ZhongXing 22 (ChinaSat 22) on 25 January 2000. Although the report claimed that the satellite belongs to the state-own commercial company China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite (ChinaSat), the satellite is in fact operated wholly by the PLA for the tactical communications role under the military designation FengHuo-1 (FengHuo = Beacon Fire, a method used by the Great Wall of China in ancient time to communicate). Although the PLA previously used various DFH-2 and DFH-3 dual-use communications satellites, the FH-1 was the first dedicated military communications satellite introduced by China.
The second FH-1 satellite ChinaSat 22A being loaded onto the launch vehicle at Xichang (Source: CCTV news footage)
Based on the DFH-3 satellite platform, the FH-1 weights 2,300kg and has a designed service life of eight years. The first satellite was launched by a CZ-3A space launch vehicle from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on 26 January 2001, and was stationed in geosynchronous orbit at 98 deg E. The FH-1 was replaced by the second FH-1 satellite named ZhongXing 22A on 12 September 2006.
