Guanlan

Description: The Guanlan, 'watching the big waves' in English, is a laser-based space detection system being developed by China since May 2018 in order to detect submerged submarines as deep as 500 meters. The Guanlan spacecraft will be equipped with a revolutionary Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) laser system and will serve to support oceanographic studies besides its military applications. This project represents one of the biggest challenges being carried out by Chinese research institutions because previous similar projects done by the United States of America and the former Soviet Union were unable to reach the 100 meters deep detection range. The revolutionary Guanlan spacecraft is estimated to be placed into orbit in the 2025-2030 timeframe.