The Ministry of Defense launched the Ofek 16 observation satellite this morning

The Ofek 16 satellite is an electro-optical observation satellite with advanced capabilities. Upon entering orbit around the Earth, the satellite will undergo a series of tests designed to verify its integrity and level of performance

The Ministry of Defense and the Aerospace Industry successfully launched, this morning at 04:00, the observation satellite 'Ofek 16' into space. The Space Directorate at the Ministry of Defense and the Aerospace Industry successfully launched the 'Ofek 4' satellite into space tonight at 00:16. The launch was carried out using a 'Shavit' type satellite launcher from an experimental field in Palmahim.

The Ofek 16 satellite is an electro-optical observation satellite with advanced capabilities. Upon entering orbit around the Earth, the satellite will undergo a series of tests designed to verify its integrity and level of performance.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz wrote this morning on his Twitter account: The successful launch of the Ofek 16 satellite tonight is another tremendous achievement for the security system, the defense industries in general and the aerospace industry in particular. Israel's technological superiority is a cornerstone of its security."

The previous satellite in the Ofek satellite series, named Ofek 11, was launched in September 2016 and carried an advanced hyperspectral camera developed and manufactured by Elbit. Ofek 16 as mentioned carries an electro-optical camera only.
Israel began developing the Ofek observation satellites in the early 1980s. Two main reasons caused this, one the peace agreement with Egypt and the return of Sinai which caused a lack of strategic depth and damaged the ability to conduct observation flights. The second reason was a ban imposed by the US government on the sale of satellite images to Israel after it used the images it acquired to bomb the nuclear reactor in Iraq.

Israel's milestones in the field of observation satellites

In 1981 Prime Minister Menachem Begin approved Israel's entry into the field of space. A space program directorate was established at the Israel Defense Forces and headed by Brigadier General (resp.) Dr. Chaim Ashad.
At the initiative of the Minister of Science, Prof. Yuval Na'eman, the government decided in 1983 to establish SLA, the Israeli Space Utilization Agency. SLA is the official agency for space activities in Israel.
In 1984, it was decided to establish the National Space Knowledge Center in the Palestinian Authority, and a contract was signed between the Palestinian Authority and the Israel Defense Forces for the development of infrastructure and the first observation satellite project. A project administration was established in the Palestinian Authority, headed by Dr. Moshe Bar-Lev for many years.
The cornerstone for the Space Combinations and Experiments Center in Israel was laid in 1986. That's when a space plant was established in Yehud.
In 1988, the first observation satellite - Ofek 1 - was launched
In 1998 and 1990, two experimental satellites, Ofek 1 and Ofek 2, were launched. In 1995, the first operational satellite, Ofek 3, was launched and remained in space for five years.
All the satellites that managed to reach space worked properly, however the Ofek 4 and Ofek 6 satellite launches failed, and the launchers on the satellites inside them fell into the Mediterranean Sea.

More of the topic in Hayadan:

• 20 years since the launch of Ofek 3 - the first military photography satellite that amazed even its developers with its performance
• "Israel must secure its place at the forefront of research and development in the aerospace industry"
• The Arrow missile and Ofek satellites were almost intercepted by the bureaucrats
• "The strategic investment in observation satellites has proven itself, it should also be done in the field of communication satellites"
• Science Minister Yizhar Shai: We are thoroughly examining the civilian space industry