Context
Israeli Air Force officials are often wary of providing too many details of Israel’s satellite capabilities. But the lieutenant colonel who leads the air force’s space and satellite unit recently stated on Israeli media that Israeli satellites are capable of “creating photographic opportunities that enable us to get up-to-date information, to the point of providing a warning on leading operational needs.” However, these satellites have some limitations. Of the six satellites that Israel has, only one called the TecSar that features radar imaging can transmit images in poor climate conditions and at night. TecSar also offers views of “areas of interest” just once in every 90 minutes. The air force desires to have sufficient satellites to cover the whole Middle East so that there are no spots left where Israel can’t see what is happening once in every 15 minutes.
