Photo: משרד הביטחון / Twitter

The satellite was launched using launcher “Shavit”.

Israel successfully launched into space a new reconnaissance satellite “OFEK-16”. About it reports “Gordon”, citing the Ministry of defense of Israel on Twitter.

The launch occurred at 4: 00 local time, the press service of the concern Israel Aerospace Industries. The satellite was launched using launcher “Shavit”.

משרד הביטחון והתעשייה האווירית שיגרו לפנות בוקר בהצלחה את הלוויין “אופק 16”- שנכנס למסלולו בחלל.

— משרד הביטחון (@MoDIsrael) July 6, 2020

The satellite began to rotate around the Earth and transmit data in accordance with the original plans to launch. Israeli engineers have developed a series of pre-planned tests to determine the accuracy and level of performance of the satellite, before it starts its full operations.

“The successful launch of the satellite “OFEK-16″ is another outstanding achievement for the defense and for the defense industry in General and for the Israeli aerospace industry in particular. Technological superiority and intelligence capabilities are essential to the security of the state of Israel”, – said the defense Minister benny Gantz.

“OFEK-16” – electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with advanced features. Its development became possible due to the large experience accumulated by the defense Department in the production of the earlier series of satellites “OFEK”, which was produced and run since 1988.