This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
On July 6, 2020, Israel launched a new spy satellite, Ofek 16, to bolster its military intelligence capabilities and monitor potential threats, including Iran's nuclear program.
The satellite was launched early Monday morning from a site in central Israel using a locally-developed Shavit rocket, which has been used to launch previous Ofek satellites.
According to Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the satellite will continue to strengthen and maintain Israel's capabilities on every front.
Ofek 16 is an electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with advanced capabilities, developed by State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and defense firm Elbit Systems.
The first images from the satellite are expected to be received in about a week.
