# HY-2D Radar Altimeter
*component . products*

Dual-frequency radar altimeter flown on HY-2D.

## Specifications
- **product status**: operational
- **deployment context**: orbital
- **manufacturer**: cast
- **component**: {}
- **entity type**: component
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-16
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: cast
- **attributes**: {"kind":"component","product_status":"operational","deployment_context":"orbital","manufacturer":"cast","description":"Dual-frequency radar altimeter flown on HY-2D.","component":"{}"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
HY-2D Radar Altimeter is a dual-frequency active radar altimeter in the HY-2D microwave payload suite, flown on HY-2D, also known as Hai Yang 2D.[^wmo-hy2d][^aviso-hy2d][^nsoas-hy2d] It operates at Ku-band 13.58 GHz and C-band 5.25 GHz.[^wmo-hy2d][^nsoas-hy2d] The component supports sea-surface-height and ocean-dynamics observation within the HY-2 series microwave mission objective.[^aviso-hy2d][^nsoas-hy2d-launch] Its pulse-limited footprint is 2 km, with nadir ranging measurement accuracy of 2 cm.[^nsoas-hy2d] Radar altimetry is demonstrated on HY-2D, with ALT active from May 2021 and expected end of life at or after 2026.[^wmo-hy2d]

## Compositional position
- hy-2d (missions) --[mission_payloads]--> HY-2D Radar Altimeter

## Sources
- [nsoas-hy2d] | HY-2D satellite, National Satellite Ocean Application Service | https://www.nsoas.org.cn/eng/item/254.html | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-16
- [nsoas-hy2d-launch] | HY-2D satellite launch news, National Satellite Ocean Application Service | https://www.nsoas.org.cn/eng/item/262.html | tier=operator-press | accessed=2026-06-16
- [aviso-hy2d] | AVISO+ mission page: HY-2D | https://www.aviso.altimetry.fr/en/missions/current-missions/hy-2d.html | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-16
- [wmo-hy2d] | WMO OSCAR satellite record: HY-2D | https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/hy_2d | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-16

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/products/component/hy-2d-alt
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)