Ever since humanity gained access to space, remark satellites, also often known as “reconnaissance satellites,” have turn out to be a highly sought-after strategic capability for many countries. These satellites employ optical sensors for daytime reconnaissance, infrared imaging for night remark, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging, allowing all-weather, day, and night remark, which may also overcome obscurants.
IAI, a world-leading high-end reconnaissance satellite provider, offers each Electro-Optic (EO) and SAR capabilities. Designed as compact mini-satellites, they may be launched into orbit by smaller satellite launchers or ride-share with larger satellites on business missions. Built on IAI’s wealthy heritage of remark satellites, the OPTSAT 3000 represents the third-generation IAI’s EO Statement Satellites. This versatile system is designed to fulfill multi-purpose applications and significant national requirements. With the associated ground control stations, also developed and built by IAI, OPTSAT 3000 provides operational autonomy and full sovereignty to its customers. With high geo-location accuracy, these satellites deliver excellent image quality, agility, and multimode imaging capability.
The TecSAR Family
The TecSAR satellite family complements the EO satellites by extending remark capability where, or when, EO remark is restricted. Despite its compact size, it offers enhanced performance and agility in comparison with equivalent satellites, and its outstanding maneuverability and image resolution provides high image quality. TecSAR excels in all weather conditions and any time of day due to its IAI’s ELM-2070 lightweight SAR, specifically designed for Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) Image Intelligence (IMINT) Satellites. Leveraging the platform’s maneuverability and multi-beam electronic antenna steering, the ELM-2070 covers large areas and produces high-quality SAR images of cutting-edge resolution for any area of interest worldwide.
The radar supports Scan, Strip, Spot, and Mosaic SAR modes, employing electronic and mechanical steering to acquire highly detailed images and achieve high-resolution coverage of intensive areas. Additional SAR modes enhance much more the imaging quality and goal discrimination.
Along with the space segment, IAI provides the Ground Imaging Exploitation Segment (IES), which enables users to receive raw data from the satellite, process it into SAR images, and distribute the outcomes to relevant agencies. The IES facilitates automatic goal, cluster, or change detections, report generation, and dissemination.
The Younger Siblings
With the increasing demand for satellite reconnaissance and the necessity for continuous surveillance of areas of interest, satellite manufacturers and operators turn to satellite constellations consisting of smaller satellites. To fulfill the demand, these constellations should provide higher revisit rates, with uncompromised performance, and at a reasonable cost.
IAI’s latest generation of Micro Satellites leads this trend. The family includes three platforms: OptSAT 500 EO Microsatellite, TecSAR xp Micro-SAR Satellite, and OptSAR 550, a hybrid platform combining each EO and SAR capabilities. These satellites are designed for simple assembly and rapid delivery to customers in space, providing a seven-year mission lifetime and ensuring strategic advantage from space is achieved swiftly.
OptSAT 500 is a high-performance microsatellite designed for Stand Alone and constellation configurations. It’s compatible with PAN, MS, SWIR, and Video sensors, offering a uniquely high native ground resolution. OptSAT 500 provides high-quality images, wide coverage capability, and optimal performance in a cheap package.
TecSAR xp is an identical microsatellite with a small, wideband high-end SAR system that allows effective detection in a single-look mode. With its extensive coverage in range and azimuth, TecSAR xp delivers near real-time, high-quality products with an unprecedented resolution for micro-satellites. It supports different operating modes with high imaging resolution over land and maritime areas, with exceptional imaging quality and throughput.
OptSAR 550 represents a revolutionary EO/SAR/Dual imagery with a high-end microsatellite, ideally suited to strategic applications. It combines the capabilities of each the OptSAT 500 and the TecSAR xp right into a single platform. This unique feature enables a multi-sensor superior and detailed investigation of targets from space. Moreover, the satellite’s high maneuverability ensures effective imaging of close targets and rapid image acquisition cycles.
As a number one provider, IAI offers a variety of reconnaissance satellites, from the third-generation EO Statement Satellite OPTSAT 3000 and the highly maneuverable TecSAR Family to the brand new Micro Satellites, reminiscent of OptSAT 500, TecSAR xp, and OptSAR 550. These smaller yet powerful satellites are suitable for constellation operation, enabling continuous surveillance and high revisit rates. Delivering advanced capabilities at inexpensive cost, these satellites have gotten indispensable strategic assets for national security.