The photo provided by the Israeli Defense Ministry shows a new reconnaissance satellite Ofek 10 launched by the "Shavit" multi-stage satellite launcher at Palmachim Air Base, north of Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 9, 2014. Israel launched the new reconnaissance satellite into space on Wednesday night, which can observe targets on the earth "in all weather conditions". Photo: Xinhua

 
Israel launched a new reconnaissance satellite into space on Wednesday night which can observe targets on earth "in all weather conditions."

The Israeli Defense Ministry said the satellite, called Ofek 10, was carried into space by a Shavit (comet) type launcher.

"Once the satellite enters orbit around the Earth, it will undergo several tests to confirm its serviceability and accurate performance," the ministry said.

Ofek 10 is an earth-observing remote-sensing satellite that employs synthetic aperture radar technology with advanced "high- resolution" imagery, "capable of operating day or night and in all weather conditions," the ministry added.

Israel's Defense Ministry cooperated with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and other Israeli high-tech companies in the development and production of Ofek 10 and the Shavit satellite launcher.

Israeli media said the launch was jointly carried out by the ministry and the IAI at the Palmahim air base in central Israel.

Israel maintains an extensive spy satellite program and invests hundreds of millions of shekels a year in space development and satellite industry.

Ofek 10 is the tenth Israeli satellite launched into space, four years after the similar Ofek 9 was launched. The first of this series, Ofek 1, went into space in 1988.

Israel is one of the 12 countries in the world that are capable of producing and launching satellites. It takes an average of eight years to develop each new satellite.