Israel Aims to Build Offensive Military Capabilities in Space

Defense Minister Israel Katz said today that Israel is setting a new security goal: developing operational capabilities from space, beyond its current use of satellites for intelligence, observation and communications. Katz said space is one of the main targets identified by the political leadership, and that Israel wants capabilities that would allow not only a presence in space and protection of Israeli assets there, but also disruption of enemy systems and active military operations from the space domain.

He described space as a highly sensitive field politically and militarily, at the center of the technological race among major powers. Katz noted that countries including the United States, China and Russia have been working on military space capabilities for years, but offensive capabilities from space are usually not officially disclosed because of their international implications.

According to Katz, Israel is now recruiting top experts in the field in an effort to become a leader in this capability. He said such development could give Israel a major advantage in deterrence and in confronting enemies with larger resources.

Israel already has advanced space capabilities built over decades. In 1988, it became the ninth country in the world to launch a domestically built satellite, and later developed the Ofek intelligence satellite series. The military space sector in Israel is led by Israel Aerospace Industries, with growing capabilities also at Rafael and Elbit. In recent years, Israeli capabilities in satellites, remote sensing and operational communications have advanced significantly, and Katz's remarks signal an expansion of Israeli defense thinking beyond land, air and sea into a new arena where technological superiority may prove decisive in future conflicts.