×

Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Space Air Cargo

Home- Stories

Israel Launches Ofek 16 Reconnaissance Satellite

: Jul 6, 2020 - : 5:43 pm

Israel has launched the latest in a series of reconnaissance satellites on the country’s Shavit rocket.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the successful lift off which happened on July 6 at 4:00 a.m local time from the Palmachim air base in central Israel.

According to a statement, Ofek 16 reached orbit successfully and is in communication with controllers. In-orbit testing of the satellite is underway to check out the satellite before putting it into service.

Ofek 16 is described as an electro-optical reconnaissance satellite “with advanced capabilities.” IAI, which built both the satellite and the Shavit launch vehicle, didn’t describe what those advanced capabilities are.

The satellite is the latest in a series of Israeli optical and radar reconnaissance satellites, built and launched in the country, dating back a quarter-century. The previous satellite in the Ofek series, Ofek 11, launched in September 2016.

“Technological superiority and intelligence capabilities are essential to the security of the State of Israel,” Benny Gantz, Israeli defense minister, said in the statement, calling the launch an “extraordinary achievement” for the country’s defense industry.

This was also the first launch since 2016 of the Shavit, a solid-fuel rocket built by IAI and based on technologies developed for ballistic missiles.

Shavit can place up to 380 kilograms into orbit launching from Palmachim, its performance penalized for having to launch to the west, against the rotation of the Earth, so that its trajectory takes it out over the Mediterranean Sea.

 

MORE NEWS

Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.

Popular Posts

Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.

Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us