{"id":63793,"date":"2023-03-30T18:49:46","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T18:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/03\/30\/israel-launches-ofek-13-intel-satellite-for-secretive-military-unit\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:48:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:48:34","slug":"israel-launches-ofek-13-intel-satellite-for-secretive-military-unit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2023\/03\/30\/israel-launches-ofek-13-intel-satellite-for-secretive-military-unit\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel launches Ofek 13 intel satellite for secretive military unit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JERUSALEM \u2014 Israel has sent its Ofek 13 military intelligence satellite into space from a site in central Israel using the country\u2019s Shavit launcher<\/a>, the Defense Ministry said this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe successful launch of the satellite is yet another important example of the Israeli defense establishment\u2019s groundbreaking innovation,\u201d said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who was present during the launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently fired Gallant<\/a> from his post for challenging a judicial overhaul plan, but it appears Gallant is still in the position. The ministry hasn\u2019t provided an update to his status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, center, was present at the launch of Ofek 13. (Israeli Defense Ministry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Israel sent the satellite into orbit on March 29, and it has begun transmitting data, the ministry said. Ofek 13 will complete an initial series of inspections before it is declared operational in the \u201cnear future,\u201d the ministry added in its statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry described the Ofek 13 satellite as a synthetic aperture radar operating in low Earth orbit. This type of system tends to have an orbit period as short as 90 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Space and Satellite Administration, which falls under the purview of the ministry\u2019s Directorate of Defense Research and Development, conducted the launch, which was carried out in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces and local company Israel Aerospace Industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe launch was successful, according to plan,\u201d said AvI Berger, who leads the Space and Satellite Administration. \u201cInitial indications from the satellite are also very good. Within the coming weeks, we will complete technical tests and receive the first pictures before delivering the satellite for operational use by the IDF.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Gold, head of the R&D directorate, said the satellite is equipped with the \u201cutmost advanced abilities at the peak of global technology\u201d and \u201cconstitutes a leap forward in operational and technological abilities for the preservation and improvement of Israel\u2019s standing in space for the coming decades.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The satellite will be used by Israel\u2019s Unit 9900, a classified branch within the IDF involved in analyzing, interpreting and understanding satellite images<\/a> and maps. Brig. Gen. Erez Askal, who commands the unit, said the launch positions Israel \u201cas a regional and international space power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur unit\u2019s soldiers and commanders will continue to work around the clock to ensure the satellite\u2019s successful operation and to provide a full operational intelligence picture,\u201d the officer added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israeli has launched its Ofek series of satellites since 1988. Israel\u2019s Air Force has previously described the satellites as \u201ca tool that allow us to look beyond the horizon, to see and investigate all of our areas of interest, and best deal with the theaters and threats. \u2026 The satellites are a power multiplier and produce a great amount of product for the IAF.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ofek 11<\/a> was launched in 2016, and Ofek 16<\/a> in 2020. The latter carried a Jupiter camera designed by Elbit Systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Ministry has not explained the numerical logic behind naming the satellite that came after 11 as 16, and then returning to 13 this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Ofek 13 satellite is sent into space on March 29, 2020, in the early morning hours. (Israeli Defense Ministry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

IAI was the prime contractor for the development of the satellite, the launcher and the ground station monitoring system. The launch engines were developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Tomer, a government-owned company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The head of IAI, Boaz Levy, praised the Ofek 13\u2032s \u201cgroundbreaking intelligence capabilities\u201d and \u201cunique radar observation capabilities\u201d that enable intelligence gathering in any weather and visibility conditions. Israeli statements on the launch did not elaborate on the satellite\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will continue to prove that even the sky isn\u2019t the limit for the Israeli defense establishment and that we continue to enhance its capabilities in every dimension in the face of various challenges,\u201d Gallant said at the latest launch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The satellite will be used by Unit 9900, which analyzes satellite images and maps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":117305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":23,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[160,163,36,23],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3452],"class_list":["post-63793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-military-space-report","category-newsletters","category-space"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"OXCTUMOTJBANJHLMB4QRYTJSF4","arc_canonical_url":"\/space\/2023\/03\/30\/israel-launches-ofek-13-intel-satellite-for-secretive-military-unit\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\nIsrael launches Ofek 13 intel satellite for secretive military unit - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The satellite will be used by Unit 9900, which analyzes satellite images and maps.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2023\/03\/30\/israel-launches-ofek-13-intel-satellite-for-secretive-military-unit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Israel launches Ofek 13 intel satellite for secretive military unit\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The satellite will be used by Unit 9900, which analyzes satellite images and maps.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2023\/03\/30\/israel-launches-ofek-13-intel-satellite-for-secretive-military-unit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defense News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-03-30T18:49:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T00:48:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Seth J. Frantzman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Seth J. 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