Israel plans to develop space weapons capable of destroying targets on Earth — media
Israel plans to develop space weapons capable of destroying ground targets — media
The Israeli Defense Ministry aims to develop offensive capabilities in the space sector as part of a multi-year budget plan. The plan includes the creation of systems to protect Israeli satellites from enemy spacecraft and weapons that can strike ground targets from space. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
According to the newspaper, the plan also includes expanding existing capabilities, including space reconnaissance and improving communication systems. Separate funds have been allocated for offensive activities in space, which will be part of a larger effort to strengthen Israel's position in the space sector.
The first direction is to expand the Israel Defense Forces' space reconnaissance capabilities in several layers. It is planned to allow for operations around the clock, in all weather conditions, and in different regions at the same time. The second direction is to create a comprehensive, stable and uninterrupted communication capabilities for the defense system.
In addition, separate funds will be allocated for offensive space operations. This direction covers two main tasks: the first is weapons that protect Israeli satellites from enemy satellites and weapons that can strike ground targets from space. The second is intended to protect Israeli territory and strike enemy forces.
To implement these projects, the Defense Research and Development Directorate (DRD) of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Israel Defense Forces and representatives of the country's defense industry are conducting a planning and development process.
**Operation Roaring Lion accelerated the process**
One of the factors accelerating the project was Operation Roaring Lion, which was launched against Iran in February 2026. During this operation, the Ministry of Defense and the Israel Defense Forces expanded the use of satellites to collect accurate intelligence from space. This increased the ability to form a target base during the war.
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a new large-scale operation against Iran. Israel called it Operation Roaring Lion, and the United States called it Operation Epic Fury.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed in closed meetings the need to quickly and seriously develop the space sector, achieve superiority over enemy states, and bring Israel into the top five countries in the world in this area.
Katz believes that space capabilities will give the Israel Defense Forces a strategic advantage in future conflicts, and the army will not have to rely solely on military intelligence and the Air Force.
“Space navigation gives us additional capabilities to take pictures both day and night, to penetrate clouds and to capture high-resolution images,” Katz said of the Ofek-19 satellite.
**A Security Advantage in Space**
Operation Roaring Lion, head of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Space Directorate, said Avi Berger, was a “huge leap forward” in Israel’s space sector.
Berger was awarded the Israel Defense Forces Prize for his technological projects in the space sector. According to him, the prize was awarded for projects related to the launch of the Ofek-13 and Ofek-19 satellites.
He explained that the two satellites are SAR — radar satellites. Their technology is different from conventional electro-optical imaging satellites. In traditional imaging, satellites create images using sunlight reflected from the Earth's surface. A SAR satellite creates the image itself: it sends electromagnetic radiation towards the Earth, and the signal returned from the Earth's surface is processed by special technology to create a synthetic image that allows for intelligence gathering.
"The State of Israel must, of course, create a security advantage in space. Only then can we ensure freedom of movement for the Israeli Defense Forces and the defense system," he said.