Israel Launches Satellite for Reconnaissance and Information Gathering

Israel launched a new version of the Ofek reconnaissance satellite today, Wednesday, stating that it will enhance its monitoring of the region around the clock as it prepares for a potential confrontation with Iran. The satellite was launched on a Shavit rocket over the Mediterranean Sea on a westward trajectory. Defense Minister Yoav Galant oversaw the launch, stating, "We will continue to prove that even the sky is not the limit for the Israeli defense establishment," which serves as an indication of his continued position despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of his dismissal amid a constitutional crisis. Boaz Levi, CEO of the Israel Aerospace Industries, confirmed that "Ofek-13 is the most advanced of its kind with unique radar monitoring capabilities, and it will enable information gathering regardless of weather conditions and visibility." The Ofek-13 satellite is produced by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and is the latest in a series of domestically manufactured satellites, the first of which was launched into space in 1988.