Chris Biggers Profile picture
Jan 13, 2022 10 tweets 5 min read Read on X
As #china claimed the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary in eastern #bhutan in June 2020—in likely an effort to sow further confusion—it built a new track to one of four new areas cleared for construction in the Dramana and Shakhatoe areas of western Bhutan. shorturl.at/gipNW
Given the Ladakh crisis that had just begun, it’s likely decision makers were off-balance as China exerted additional pressure with new deployments along the LAC, some of which we still see today. (imagery: @planet)
Furthermore, construction activity has also been monitored in the Langmarpo valley and further south on the Doklam plateau. Several areas have been cleared and we expect additional construction activity in 2022. Here's an area with new foundations (imagery: @capellaspace)
Here's another area translated as Jiwujiadeng from Mapbox data that will likely see new construction activity in 2022. This is also in the Dramana and Shakhatoe area. (Imagery: @planet)
Nice to see @Maxar releasing their images of the area in this NDTV report. The two areas are in the Dramana and Shakhatoe areas. ndtv.com/india-news/exc…
In my public/private reporting we call these areas out as Caitangsha and Qule, though these may not be the exact names which are likely disputed. NDTV doesn't show Sairubu which is further southwest and the Jiwujiadeng area in the north where construction has just broken ground.
We've also identified a livestock production facility to the north of the area near Pagri. While currently circumstantial, we find the location interesting given China's efforts to graze animals in disputed territory. (Imagery: @planet)
@planet Recall @RobbieBarnett's excellent report in @ForeignPolicy last May where the Bhutanese accused their neighbors to the north.
It's possible we could see similar tensions in other grazing areas. Here's a location further south for example where a new Chinese post has popped up opposite a Bhutanese grazing area.
How fortuitous maybe China can send in some of these 'electric yaks'...

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More from @CSBiggers

Apr 19
Umbra synthetic aperture radar imagery acquired 0648Z 19APR2024 showed evidence of damage to the Iranian S-300PMU2 strategic surface-to-air missile battery in Isfahan since 15APR2024. A probable damaged 30N6E target engagement radar was visible in imagery still on the radar hardstand. Other battery system components however have been withdrawn from the site. Their status and location is currently unclear. According to senior U.S. military sources speaking to FOX News, “The Israelis hit what they intended to strike.”Image
In my haste to make the previous tweet I pulled callouts from other slides in the deck, so there were discrepancies that required amending. Apologies for deleting the tweet.
Read 7 tweets
Feb 22, 2022
Handheld video uploaded to Tik-Tok shows Novoozerne corresponding with Planet collection on 19FEB2022.
Recent @planet collection on 21FEB2022 showed that the equipment previously in convoy formation on 19FEB had relocated. Image
Runway obstructions on 24FEB2022 at Ukraine's Dnipro airport after NOTAM announcing closure. Image
Read 6 tweets
Feb 13, 2022
Imagery acquired 12FEB2022 by @capellaspace shows armored formed up at Alchevsk. (again another typo fix, sry.) Image
Welcome to the 'count-the-blob' game. @planet's Planetscope imagery acquired on 13FEB2022. Image
Planet imagery acquired on 11FEB2021 showed that 11 x Su-25SM had relocated to Millervo east of Luhansk. The airbase hosts the 31 IAP which has been converting to the Su-30SM from the MIG-29 since 2015. #geoint Image
Read 15 tweets
Jan 30, 2022
This is Luninets AB, located approximately 50 km north of the Ukrainian border in #Belarus. It's a reserve airfield that we often see used in air and air defense exercises. (Imagery: @planet) Image
Similarly, we also have Babryusk AB, another reserve airfield that #Russia has previously used in air defense exercises with Belarus. Like Luninets, we have an active EW site and a cleared runway. (Imagery: @planet) Image
Then there's Baranovichi where Russian Su-30SM likely stayed on. However, this low light image from December 2021 doesn't show the canards very clearly. (Imagery: @planet) BY Su-30SM parked in QRA right / prob RS Su-30SM on main ramp w/ prob BY MIG-29. Image
Read 16 tweets
Jan 18, 2021
With news of the village finally leaking, we may add some color to other developments. We'll see what time allows today.
For starters, we located the pop-up position of the unit likely previously deployed at Gonggar Image
As of January 2021, the site at Pagri is nearing completion:
Read 23 tweets
Sep 6, 2020
@planetlabs has a series of great collects of China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Interestingly, the rotating service structure on pad 921 underwent modification in June likely to accommodate a larger payload fairing on the LM-2F rocket for the 4 September launch. Image
Here's a quick look at the service structure before modification. Image
Here's a nice off nadir shot during modification in June with a section of the structure removed. Image
Read 6 tweets

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