No.
Surveillance or spy satellites still need sunlight to see.
Reality is different from Hollywood.
Please keep in mind that state-of-the-art surveillance capabilities are barely advertised and explained in the public domain. Therefore, not easy for me to tell you much, but I will try.
When people talk about spy satellites, they typically assume one with a telescope pointed towards Earth's surface. This is a misconception.
1. Optical Imaging - Sunlight driven*
2. Electromagnetic Spectrum Imaging - EO/IR (Infrared; Ultraviolet; and more)
3. Radar Imaging - SAR
4. Laser Imaging
Spy satellites can be directed to scan a particular region of interest in STEREO (1 x EO/IR and 1 x Radar Imaging observing the same spot) or MOSAIC (Constellation level observation of the same spot), collect relevant information, and transmit it to the relevant agency in real-time (i.e. digital communication system), and the agency in turn transform the accumulated data into incredibly rich 3-D imaging on a supercomputer in short order. STEREO and MOSAIC observations provide persistent coverage of movements of objects on the surface and/or even in space.
Radar imaging is a robust technique; it works during the day, in the night, and penetrate through the clouds (X-band), smoke and even stormy conditions - no hindrances. Even commercial solutions are incredibly powerful. In fact, there are rumors that some of the stuff can see stealthy aircraft (ghost imaging).
I have seen a few high quality SAR images. State-of-the-art sensors are sensitive to surface roughness, can map entire landscapes, and are excellent for measuring characteristics of a huge number of objects in order to distinguish them. A radar instrument actively sends its own radio waves towards its target and then measures what is reflected back.
Courtesy of
SNL
Believe me -
that is not a camera shot but an example of SAR image processing. Relatively better and sharper results in classified territory. Military-grade radar coverage from space, in essence.
State-of-the-art EO/IR assets are approaching SAR assets in terms of robustness in monitoring activities. Besides scanning the surface to pick on activities of interest from virtually anywhere, these can be made to observe flight of a ballistic missile from birth (boost) to death (terminal) in real time [
MOTION SENSITIVITY], and distinguish its components along the way - even in the
Earth Shadow.
STSS satellites in STEREO - tracking movement of a threat cloud in real-time.
Now, combine the result of radar imaging with the result of an EO/IR system of the same location, and you will have incredibly rich information for the particular location at hand to work with.
Spy satellites are also positioned in different orbits and can talk to each other in order to provide persistent coverage of developments in regions of interest worldwide.
US established a constellation of Lacrosse radar imaging and Kh-11 EO/IR spy satellites to observe movements of ballistic missiles, transportation of nuclear weapons, and other
nighttime Soviet military activities back in the days of Cold War. There were gaps in global satellite coverage back then and limited number of satellites could talk to each other. This is no longer the case.
Not just spy satellites but US have developed state-of-the-art surveillance drones which can operate in space for years to complement work of spy satellites - if need be. These assets bridge potential gaps in orbital mechanics.
Global Hawk surveillance drone serve as endo- atmospheric layer for similar ends. Overview in this link:
http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/GlobalHawk/Pages/default.aspx
FYI:
https://news.northropgrumman.com/ne...k-expands-satellite-communications-capability
Multi-spectral imaging from a drone:-
(a) = Visible (Normal)
(b) = NIR
(c) = MWIR
(d) = LWIR
STEREO and MOSAIC observation techniques are virtually impossible to defeat (spy satellites are jam-resistant by virtue of special substances, design characteristics and sheer power; and multiple methods of surveillance - in tandem - see through various tricks on the surface). They can see any object up to 5 cm in size at smallest and even underground structures to an extent. Not easy to track and shoot them down either; many are orbiting Earth at extreme speeds (MACH 23 - 25) and can even change course.
Heck, capabilities of Google Geoeye-1 will surprise you. You have to pay to access its functions though. Somebody used Geoeye-1 to discover existence of a Chinese replica of F-117 aircraft (RAM coated), not long ago:
http://www.stormclimb.com/2011/08/16/chinese-f-117-full-size-replica-a-cause-for-concern/
Data of Geoeye-1 can be utilized to understand the composition of deeply buried strategic locations as well. For example:
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*Replacements have begun:
https://www.defenseone.com/technolo...llites-just-got-exponentially-smaller/140700/
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A country that have upper-hand in
surveillance, firepower, and defenses, will utterly dominate conventional and nuclear battle-spaces.
US have fielded largest and most powerful surveillance apparatus in the world with legs across sea, land, air and space. They have accumulated incredible amount of data by now, and continue to do so. American presence in Afghanistan have served them well on various fronts. A rag-tag group like Afghan Taliban doesn't matter in the long-term; just an excuse to prolong stay in Afghanistan. Probing Pakistani and Iranian defenses was a rewarding endeavor on the other hand, and they have. We think short-term but they think long-term.
When you understand the bigger picture, then you realize that there is no room for
ifs and
buts. What I have disclosed in this post is not even half picture. I have just given some pointers.
So yes! Wishful thinking on your end, brah. We show them what we want them to see, is not wise to say LMAO. They see what they want to see, is correct in large part. Scores of fellow Pakistani are clueless in this regard unfortunately.