Israel launches spy satellite for high-quality surveillance

JERUSALEM: State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries has launched a new spy satellite to assist in high-quality surveillance for its military intelligence.

As per details, the satellite, called Ofek 16, was shot into space on Monday morning from a site in central Israel by a locally-developed Shavit rocket, which was used to launch previous Ofek satellites.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Benny Gantz said Israel has been building up its surveillance capabilities to monitor enemies such as Iran, whose nuclear program is a major threat to the country.

While appreciating the successful launching of the satellite, Benny Gantz said, “We will continue to toughen and maintain Israel’s capabilities on every front, in every place.”

The Defense Ministry called Ofek 16 “an electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with modern capabilities of getting required information.” He informed the first images of the satellite will be received in about a week.

State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries was the main contractor for the venture and the satellite’s payload was developed by defense firm Elbit Systems. Israel, which accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons.

In a speech on Sunday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi noted that it was Israel’s long-term strategy to prevent Iran from gaining the ability to build a nuclear weapon.

However, Iran has long claimed its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, said Iran has been enriching uranium to about 4.5% purity — below weapons-grade but higher than the terms of the 2015 U.S.-led international nuclear deal.