TEL AVIV – In a move that significantly enhances its strategic surveillance capabilities, Israel announced the successful launch of its new-generation reconnaissance satellite, the Ofek-90. Launched from the Palmachim Airbase in central Israel, the satellite was delivered into orbit by a Shavit launch vehicle and is poised to become the nation's most advanced eye in the sky, maintaining a constant watch over a volatile Middle East.
The Ofek-90, whose name means "Horizon" in Hebrew, represents a major leap forward in Israel's space-based intelligence infrastructure. According to officials from the Ministry of Defense, the satellite is equipped with state-of-the-art electro-optical and synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) systems. This technology grants it the ability to capture incredibly high-resolution imagery, day or night and in all weather conditions, effectively piercing through cloud cover or darkness.
Sources within the defense establishment have confirmed that the satellite possesses a remarkable resolution capable of identifying objects on the ground as small as 50 centimeters (approximately 20 inches). This level of clarity provides an unprecedented advantage, allowing analysts to not just detect a vehicle, but potentially identify its specific type and purpose, monitor troop movements with precision, and spot minute changes at sensitive locations such as nuclear facilities or missile launch sites.
This launch is the latest development in Israel’s long-standing Ofek program, a multi-decade endeavor managed by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Ministry of Defense. The program is the cornerstone of Israel's independent intelligence-gathering strategy, designed to provide early warnings of imminent threats and maintain its qualitative military edge in the region. The primary focus of the Ofek constellation has historically been, and continues to be, the monitoring of Iran's nuclear program, its ballistic missile development, and the activities of its regional proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and other militant factions in Syria.
While regional adversaries increasingly rely on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground-based intelligence, Israel's investment in space solidifies a critical asymmetric advantage. Unlike drones, which are vulnerable to being shot down and must often violate sovereign airspace, the Ofek-90 operates from the uncontested high ground of low Earth orbit. It can pass over any point of interest multiple times a day, providing reliable, survivable, and clandestine surveillance without putting personnel or equipment at direct risk.
In a statement, Israel's Minister of Defense lauded the launch as "a critical step in safeguarding the nation's security." He added, "In a region where threats can emerge overnight, our ability to see clearly and act decisively is paramount. Ofek-90 ensures that our eyes are never closed, providing our defense forces with the intelligence they need to stay one step ahead."
The deployment of Ofek-90 is a powerful declaration of Tel Aviv's status as a world leader in space intelligence technology, placing it in an elite club of nations with such advanced independent capabilities. As geopolitical tensions simmer, this new "horizon" ensures that Israel's watch from above is sharper and more relentless than ever before.
