The new satellite is a product of Elta, a
daughter company of IAI, and it makes use of
aperture synthetic technology (SAR) developed
over the past two decades, partly with Defense
Ministry funding. It is capable of taking
high-resolution photographs through clouds, in
darkness, and via camouflage, enhancing the
real-time intelligence-gathering capabilities
of its user.
The key to the new technology is high processing
speed: The new satellite's systems can process
data at speeds that are 1,000 times faster than
a top-end personal computer.
The system was developed over the years for use
on military aircraft, and in recent years it
was decided to adopt it for use on satellites.
The relatively low weight of the system is a
great advantage when compared with the
telescopic cameras on military satellites like
the Ofek 5, currently in orbit.
The Defense Ministry expressed interest in
purchasing the new satellites, but no contracts
have yet been signed because of budgetary
constraints.
The SAR has already proved its value during the
naval commando operation that led to the
capture of the Karine A, a Palestinian ship
carrying missiles and munitions to the
Palestinian Authority, which was intercepted in
the Red Sea last year.
Also on display was Flight Guard, a
system that protects aircraft from the threat
of terrorist missiles. Flight Guard deflects
heat-seeking missiles by launching flares, and
it has been adapted for civilian aircraft from
a system that has been used on military
aircraft for over a decade.
The Flight Guard is made up of three, shoe-box sized gray containers, in addition to antennas that are dispersed around the aircraft. One box, equipped with radar sensors, detects the incoming missiles; the other two, on each side of the aircraft, deploy the decoy flares.
At a 50th anniversary of its founding, Israel Aircraft Industries displayed its advanced technologies, including a new spy radar-satellite capable of taking
photographs from very long distances in all
weather, sky and light conditions.