Occupied Jerusalem The "Horizon 13" satellite, which was launched by Israel for espionage and reconnaissance purposes at dawn on Wednesday, differs from previous optical satellites from the "Horizon" family because it relies on the radar system.

Horizon 13 is a photographic and spy satellite, designed and built by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries for the Tel Aviv Ministry of Defense, and constitutes the new and latest generation of Israeli satellites.

Israel has several satellites in space, mostly for espionage purposes, and is one of the countries with the ability to launch satellites itself.

Israel's dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stayed in the control room of Israel Aerospace Industries with a number of military officials to watch the launch closely, as Horizon 13 was launched from the Palmachim air base aboard the Shavit satellite launcher, and Tomer and Rafael produced the launch rocket engines.

The Horizon 13 satellite was developed based on the experience gained by the Israel Defense and Aerospace Industries Corporation in developing the Advanced Observation Satellite series, which were first launched into space in 1988.

The "Horizon 13" satellite flies off the shores immediately after launch from the "Palmachim" air base (social media)

Radars and signals

Horizon 13 relies on the radar system, which distinguishes it from other previous Israeli optical satellites, especially from the Horizon generation, where the new generation of Horizon 13 does not depend on visibility or weather conditions.

Horizon 13 has the ability to send a signal that reaches the Earth and then returns to it, thus creating in a short and fast time compared to other satellites of the same generation, an image that does not depend on clouds, darkness or other weather conditions.

According to the Rocket and Space Systems Division of Israel Aerospace Industries, the Horizon 13 orbit was built and developed, orbiting the Earth's surface once every 90 minutes, and was also developed to move along a path that passes over Syria and Iran.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense is considered the author of the idea of "Horizon 13", as it asked the Space Directorate of the Ministry of Defense to develop a new and modern generation of satellites, with the participation of the military intelligence unit in the Israeli army, unit "9900".

Israel has the ability to launch satellites itself (Reuters)

Flying and penetrating

The Air Force oversaw the development of Horizon 13 in the Rocket and Space Systems Division of Israel Aerospace Industries, in partnership with the Aeroelectronics Industry Company (ELTA), a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, which specializes in military electronic systems, radar, communications and electronic warfare.

Horizon 13, this type of spy and surveillance satellite, is characterized by the ability to survive and fly in space for decades, unlike other Israeli satellites, as its stay in space depends on the extent of the satellites' wear and decommissioning, and use depends on the amount of fuel in them, and the conditions in space.

The operation technology of "Horizon 13" is also characterized by the fact that it can work, monitor, document and see day and night, so that its cameras can penetrate clouds in all weather conditions, a feature that will enable it to produce intelligence about what is going on above the globe from space.

Gallant (second from left) follows up on the launch with a number of Israeli officials (social media)

Light and Dark

Avi Berger, head of the IDF's Space Directorate, said the image produced by the Horizon 13 satellite is based on light from the satellite's radar and not sunlight.

This means, according to Berger, in a statement after the launch of "Horizon 13", that the new satellite sends a beam back to Earth, so that the reflection and changes in the radar beam belonging to the satellite make it possible to create an image as if it had been created by an optical camera.

Thanks to this technology, the head of the IDF's Space Directorate, Berger, says, "The Horizon 13 satellite can produce images in the light, in the dark, through clouds and in almost any weather condition, and this is a new feature from various Israeli satellites."

Features and capabilities

According to Berger, the "Horizon 13" satellite is distinguished by its reliance on the radar system, unlike other satellites, which are optical satellites, so the components of the satellite camera that may be damaged by use in space have been minimized.

Berger explained that reducing Horizon 13's reliance on satellite camera components, as is common in various Israeli satellites, enables it to work for many years in space service without the need for any maintenance and without any malfunction.

"The moon communicates with us and talks to us after we launched it into space, where we have done complex operations such as deploying solar panels and stabilizing into orbit, as Horizon 13 prepares to receive missions from us," Berger said.

Israeli Defense Minister (left) accompanied by Defense Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir in the control room during the launch of "Horizon 13" (Al Jazeera)

Syria and Iran

Commenting on the launch of the new generation of the Horizon 13 satellite, Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Ezz Levy said, "The launch of the satellite provides Israel with the technological capabilities possessed by few countries in the world."

He added that the launch of this exact type at this stage represents all that is good and distinctive in Israel, given that few countries in the world have this type of satellite technology for espionage and reconnaissance purposes.

Levy revealed to Israel Radio that the Israeli Defense Ministry has predetermined the path of the satellite's orbit, as it passes over the Earth once every 90 minutes, and moves in a special path that also passes over Syria and Iran in its orbit.

Espionage and reconnaissance

Levy described Horizon 13 as a new eye for Israel in space, with more capabilities that enable the documentation and monitoring of threats that would confront Israel and require continuous monitoring around the clock, which will enable Israel to make the right decisions in case of threats and when necessary.

Levy explained that the Horizon 13 satellite is already being talked and communicated around the clock, where its data and the information it sends are studied and analyzed.

He pointed out that the IDF's Space Directorate conducts tests and tests for each of its systems to ensure that everything is working regularly, and that it will later be transferred to the service of the Israeli security and intelligence services for espionage and reconnaissance.