Ofek-16
| Company type | Satellite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace / Defense |
| Founded | July 6, 2020 |
| Founder | Israel Aerospace Industries (on behalf of Israeli Ministry of Defence) |
| Headquarters | Yehud , Israel |
Area served | Middle East and beyond |
Key people | Amnon Harari (head of the Space and Satellite Administration at the Ministry of Defence) |
| Products | Electro-optical reconnaissance satellite |
| Owner | Israeli Ministry of Defence |
| Parent | Israel Aerospace Industries |
Ofek-16, alternatively known as Ofeq-16, is an Israeli satellite specializing in electro-optical reconnaissance, which was deployed in July 2020. It belongs to the Ofeq satellite series and was engineered and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
The Space Administration within the Ministry of Defence oversaw the satellite's development and production phases, appointing IAI as the primary contractor. The program was managed by IAI’s Systems, Missiles and Space Group in collaboration with the MLM Division, responsible for the launch vehicle. The imaging system and payload were developed by Elbit Systems, while propulsion components for the launcher were supplied by Rafael and Tomer, a state-owned defense technology enterprise.
Other key contributors included BAE Systems Rokar and Cielo Inertial Solutions, which provided advanced navigation technologies to enhance satellite autonomy. Personnel from the Israel Defence Forces, mainly from the Intelligence Corps and Air Force, played pivotal roles throughout the development process.
Launch
The Ofek-16 satellite was launched on 6 July 2020 at 04:00 local time (01:00 UTC) from Palmachim Airbase situated in central Israel, utilizing a Shavit 2 launch vehicle to place it into low Earth orbit. Shortly after deployment, Ofek-16 commenced its orbit around Earth and began transmitting data back to ground stations.
It carries an upgraded "Jupiter Space" camera developed by Elbit Systems, which outperforms the imaging system used on the OPTSAT-3000 satellite. This sensor provides "high spectral resolution" imagery with a ground resolution reaching 50 centimetres from an altitude of 600 kilometres. Each image covers approximately 15 square kilometres, allowing Israel to conduct precise surveillance over the entire Middle East region and beyond.
No advance public announcement preceded the launch; confirmation from the Ministry of Defence came roughly 90 minutes post-launch via Twitter. While many technical specifications remain classified, Israeli authorities have acknowledged its military reconnaissance function, describing it as an "electro-optical reconnaissance satellite equipped with advanced capabilities." Visual materials depicting the spacecraft and launch preparations have been publicly shared.
The development of the launch vehicle was a cooperative effort between the Israel Defense Ministry and IAI. Following launch, engineers commenced testing procedures to evaluate satellite performance ahead of full operational integration. Control responsibilities will eventually be transferred to the Israel Defence Forces’ '9900' Intelligence Unit once commissioning is complete.
Mission
Initial image acquisition was anticipated within one week after deployment. On 14 July 2020, officials from the Defence Ministry reported that IAI teams had successfully activated Ofek-16’s observation camera and received imagery overnight at a control facility in Yehud, central Israel. These initial images have not been released publicly but are securely archived. Amnon Harari, head of the Space and Satellite Administration at the Ministry of Defence, commended the image quality and confirmed ongoing efforts to achieve full operational capability for the satellite.
Defence Minister Benny Gantz described this milestone as "another extraordinary achievement for the defence apparatus."
Between launches of Ofek-11 and Ofek-16, Israel did not publicly conduct any satellite deployments; it remains unclear whether designations Ofek-12 through Ofek-15 were omitted or assigned to other projects.
This launch enhances Israel’s intelligence-gathering capacity amid ongoing security concerns related to nations such as Iran. The timing corresponds with increased geopolitical tension stemming from Iran’s missile advancements, military activities in neighboring Syria, and nuclear ambitions—factors that Israel regards as critical threats to national security.