Flagship observation satellites made by Israel Aerospace Industries have in recent days been on display at a key space-related conference held in Dubai – a development made possible by the 2020 Abraham Accords.

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The International Astronautical Congress, which was held Oct. 25 to 29 in the United Arab Emirates, saw IAI present its OptSat3000 high-resolution satellite and the Tecsar radar observation satellite. The latter is able to use radar waves to collect intelligence during day or night in all weather conditions.

In September 2020, Israel launched the IAI-made Ofek 16 spy satellite, carrying a higher than ever resolution camera in space. Six years earlier, Israel launched its Ofek 10 radar spy satellite.

IAI led Israel's space exhibit at the Astronautical Congress, which took place this year after being canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Estie Rosen, IAI's head of media relations, told JNS that the company also exhibited a new mini-communication satellite concept and a cloud computing-based ground station for processing information from satellites.

The cloud-based ground station unveiled by IAI recently is designed to "enable maximum availability of satellite information," she said.

The company also showcased "Beresheet," the lunar lander that nearly brought Israel to the moon in 2019 before crashing into its surface at the last moment.

"The International Astronautical Congress is the most significant global space event," said Rosen. "It is held in a different location every year, and Israel has hosted it as well [in 2015]."

Rosen added that "due to the Abraham Accords, we can take part as IAI and bring Israeli personnel to this event. This is a moving development."

She noted that Israel launched Ofek 16 into space during the peak of the pandemic, achieving a successful launch of the advanced camera-carrying satellite. "It entered orbit quickly, and is used operationally by security forces, providing high-quality images," she stated.

Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate has control of the satellite. Rosen described IAI satellites as being at "the technological forefront in terms of the resolution they provide to the table of security forces."

In January 2020, IAI announced that it signed an agreement with the Israeli government for the development and construction of Israel's next communications satellite, Dror 1. The satellite will enable Israel to retain independent capabilities in the critical domain of space-based communications. Communications satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers.

'A smartphone in space'

Rosen said some countries don't need huge expensive communication satellites, adding that IAI has identified a niche market for lighter satellites, which are cheaper to launch and carry fewer beam antennas, while still retaining "elite, more affordable technology."

Communications satellites need to be highly agile, effectively acting as "a smartphone in space that can load applications from the ground to the satellite and conduct changes of missions," said Rosen, describing the company's design functions.

The company is also developing nanosatellites.

Indeed, she emphasized, it has invested hefty funds in satellite research and development.

In a statement, IAI said that "the field of space is a global growth engine that crosses technological, educational, business and political borders." It added that the Dubai space conference provided "IAI with the opportunity to build new relationships with local companies in the UAE and in the Gulf countries, and to develop new ventures with partners in the local defense industry, government agencies and academic institutions."

In October, the Israeli Space Agency and the UAE declared that they would cooperate on building the "Beresheet 2" lunar lander, scheduled for launch in 2024.

IAI held its first exhibit in Dubai at CyberTech in 2020. It will present at the Dubai Airshow this month, from Nov. 14. to Nov. 18.

"The UAE is a country with advanced space capabilities that are wide and scope. We can find common issues," said Rosen. "Space is important for both countries.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Commtact, an Israeli provider of advanced wireless communications systems, unveiled a real-time communications network for first responders on Monday.

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Called CommNet, the new system is also designed for large events and command-and-control center teams. It is based on software-defined radios that can be worn in rugged conditions by operators. The system offers voice and data connectivity over a wide range of radio frequencies and channel width over a secure private network.

"Being the first on the scene of catastrophes and natural disasters, first responders have a growing need for an independent, reliable, real-time mobile communications network that facilitates data-sharing alongside constant situational awareness," Commtact said in a statement, adding "CommNet provides exactly this."

The new system "enhances real-time situational awareness in a variety of missions, supporting ongoing real-time communications between multiple users operating diverse platforms. Even with a large number of users, the system provides a consistently high quality of service," it said.

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On the way to Moshav Ness Harim I am thankful that Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel has made me fulfil the commandment of visiting the crowded capital during the recent Sukkot holiday, and think about a friend who asked me – "what party is he from?" 

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In early 2019 Hendel joined Moshe Ya'alon's Telem Party and then Blue and White. A year later, Hendel and Zvi Hauser split off and established their own Derech Eretz party, which Hendel currently heads, under the umbrella of Gideon Sa'ar's New Hope list. 

"I've only been in politics for three years and it turns out I'm good at it," Hendel says later as we sit in his sukkah on the moshav. 

Actually, he has only been an MK for two years, but says, "You don't amass political power for the power, you need to know how to let go. The Likud won 30 seats and became the Opposition. We knew how to use power." 

Hendel is currently serving as communications minister, but does not deliberate about wanting to take on the public security portfolio. 

"The number one goal is there. Public security is the biggest danger of all the ones around us. We need to handle Iran and it doesn't matter who the prime minister is – the policy will be similar, but what is happening here at home bothers me," he says. 

Hendel calls weapons, growing crime, and illegal construction in the Arab sector "a strategic danger to Israel" and says he "doesn't remember a single cabinet meeting in previous governments that dealt with that danger." 

"We need more resources for public security. We need to set up tactical units in northern and southern Israel – the Negev and Galilee. Do a 'Defensive Shield' in the Arab sector, for the sake of the Arab citizens. Since 2010, 4,000 illegal structures have been built in the Negev every year. The restoration of governability is a national task. Arab citizens deserve to feel a sense of security in their homes." 

To every one of my questions, Hendel is ready with answers that show how much better the current government is performing compared to its predecessors. He says that the Communications Ministry was non-functional during the last government. 

"Being a minister is having the ability to influence processes. When you understand the weight it carries, it creates motivation and responsibility. I can see it clearly – how a lack of decision about optic fibers held up progress." 

Q: How far along are we now? 

"Fifty percent of the population has accessibility, more than 100,000 households are connecting each month, it's one of the highest rates in the world. And that's after we were behind for 10 years because of regulation. In the previous government, I promoted the issue … by 2024 we'll lead the world in optic fiber connectivity, both in central Israel and the periphery." 

Q: When it comes to social media like Facebook, it seems as if Israel's policy is somewhat lax, while the US is battling their control. 

"Let's start with saying there is a real problem that includes three parts – transparency, revenue, and control. The inherent tension between recognizing our freedom of expression, with the government not needing to control the truth, and the malicious use of that power. We are in feverish discussions with social media platforms. I've already met with the heads of TikTok and we're in talks with Facebook and Twitter, and we're on our way to an understanding. These dilemmas exist everywhere in the world. The debate in the US crosses party lines. They are grappling with the monopoly that has been created. We're learning from them and trying to develop models." 

Q: These are platforms that control our thoughts. They might have more influence on election results than any other media actor. They are not being summoned to hearings. 

"I am definitely not happy with the current situation. I'm convinced we need to intervene, and ultimately, Israel will. I'm in favor of doing that through dialogue. If Facebook decides, for example, to block certain citizens – the question is what data they base that decision on. They are effectively acting as editors, just like a newspaper is edited. We'll create order in all this." 

Q: But when it comes to anti-vaxxers, you're in favor of censorship by Facebook. 

"Yes, certainly. When it comes to fake news from anti-vaxxers, who present studies that were never conducted and false science, it's like incitement. It's a matter of life and death. On issues like these, certainly there is a need to intervene. Facebook is in constant contact with us about antisemitic content, for example. When someone posts a video of an Arab youth beating a Haredi man in Jerusalem, of course it demands intervention. The question is when it comes to the gray area." 

Q: Debating about vaccines isn't legitimate? 

"It is, but without fake science." 

Q: What about taxing these enormous corporations? Do you agree with the finance minister that they should be taxed? 

"Yes, it's a matter of values. Anyone who makes money here needs to pay tax. It's happening in the world and it will happen here, too." 

Q: You aren't afraid that will lead to a rise in the prices of Netflix and the rest of the foreign service providers? 

"Soon we'll have additional providers here, like Disney, and a market with competition. Prices will rise if there are only a few player and no real market. If we tax the companies and open the market, the opposite will happen. You need to remember that they also provide infrastructure – Facebook and Google lay underwater cable, set up server farms at a cost of billions. Israel is resuming its central position as a strategic location, from India to Europe." 

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Hendel espouses the idea of an "Israeli ideal for everyone." 

Q: Does that ideal include your prime minister, who is breaking promises to his voters? 

"I remind you that for 12 years we had a prime minister who broke his promises. He broke a promise to annex the Jordan Valley, the promise to restore governability, and lots of personal promises, including one about the rotation agreement with [Blue and White leader] Benny Gantz." 

Q: And that makes it all right for Prime Minister Bennett to break his promises? 

"You'll have to ask Bennett that. Gideon Sa'ar and I said we would do everything to avoid a government with Netanyahu … I thought Netanyahu needed to go home because everything he did the last two years affected the status of the government.

"I was the one who led to the previous unity government because I thought a narrow government wasn't good for the people of Israel. I didn't agree to a narrow Netanyahu government of 60-61 MKs. What concerned me wasn't how much the prime minister lied to the voters, but what was good for Israel. We can address issues like kashruth supervision, civil marriage, and conversion, separating the roles of the attorney general, stricter punishments for illegal weapons. We can work on it." 

Q: Can you work with Meretz, Labor, and Ra'am? 

"I have no problem with Omer Bar-Lev and Nachman Shai, or with anyone who served in the army like I did. [Ra'am leader] Mansour Abbas is a different story. He did something amazing. When there's a pogrom in Lod and he is photographed in front of a synagogue and condemns the attack – it says that something is happening here. The partnership with him is an important experiment in integrating Arab Israelis. If it fails – we all lose, and I think the Arab sector will lose out more."

Q: And what do we do now? 

"We'll do a 'Defensive Shield.' We'll go out and collect illegal weapons. We've given up on Bedouin enlistment, which used to be high but has dropped to marginal. We'll restore the Zionist spirit – settlement, aliyah, and integration." 

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Aquarius Engines has successfully completed phase one of their partnership agreement with Nokia. The Finnish communications giant now plans to expand field tests of the Aquarius generator from three to five pilots, Aquarius announced Thursday.

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The initial phase was to test and verify the Aquarius Engines patented remote energy management software, which is designed to allow clients to closely monitor the efficiency of remotely placed generators from miles away. In the long term Nokia hopes to roll out Aquarius micro generators to isolated communications towers, as well as providing power to areas far beyond the electric grid.

Nokia has also expressed its desire to expand global field tests of the Aquarius generator from three to five pilots. The initial plan was to evaluate the Aquarius Generator at far-flung locations in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Due to the success of phase one tests, they have now asked to increase field tests into Europe to include Germany and Poland.

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The satellite, to be called Dror-1, will be designed to operate for 15 years, handling Israel's satellite communication needs, and will be built mostly from locally-developed technology.

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The project's estimated cost is $190-$200 million, most of which will be paid for by the state.

According to the deal, Dror-1, which will be the first of a series of future satellites, will be ready for launch within four years.

"The government's decision was made from the understanding that this is a vital capability of the State of Israel and it requires ensuring complete independence in the field while preserving the knowledge and expertise accumulated over the years in Israel," IAI said in a statement.

The Dror-1 satellite will be developed by IAI's Systems Missiles & Space Group, which developed, among other things, the Arrow 2 and 3 defense systems and the Barak 8 surface-to-air missile system.

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