Recent Activity
Ofeq-13 SAR reconnaissance satellite launched March 2023 on Shavit-2; first operational synthetic-aperture-radar bird in the Ofeq fleet.
Investor Brief
Strategic sovereign launch capability for reconnaissance satellites despite hostile geography; demonstrates that retrograde launches from small nations are technically viable. Investor relevance limited — closed military program with no commercial offering.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Regulatory Regime
Anchor Tenants
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Employees
Country
🇮🇱Israel
Region
Middle East
Established
1,988
Launches / Year
12
Years Active
38
Strategic Position
31.8847° N, 34.6827° E
Azimuth: ~255°-285° (westward retrograde only) — ~15-20% payload penalty vs. prograde launch; no eastward azimuths available due to overflight constraints over Jordan/Saudi Arabia
31.9°N — moderate latitude but partially negated by mandatory retrograde launch profile (westward over Mediterranean)
About
Palmachim Airbase on Israel's Mediterranean coast serves as the launch site for the Shavit orbital launch vehicle. Due to Israel's geopolitical situation, rockets must be launched westward over the Mediterranean Sea (retrograde), which requires extra energy but avoids overflying hostile neighbors. Israel is one of the smallest nations with indigenous orbital launch capability — the retrograde penalty costs roughly 15-20% of payload mass versus an equivalent prograde launch, a structural disadvantage that has shaped the country's preference for compact reconnaissance satellites.
Key Features
Israel's only orbital launch site — located on the Mediterranean coast
Unique westward (retrograde) launch trajectory over the Mediterranean Sea
Supports the Shavit solid-fuel orbital launch vehicle
Also used for ballistic missile defense tests (Arrow system)
One of only a few nations launching satellites retrograde due to geography
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
Ofeq-1 (1988) — Israel's first satellite, launched on Shavit
Ofeq-3 (1995) — First operational Israeli reconnaissance satellite
Ofeq-16 (2020) — Reconnaissance satellite deployment
Ofeq-13 (2023) — Latest SAR reconnaissance satellite
Arrow-3 missile defense interceptor tests
Recent Launches From This Site
Most recent missions flown from Palmachim Airbase
- Shavit-2 | Ofek-13Israel Aerospace IndustriesSuccess
- Shavit-2 | Ofek-19Israel Aerospace IndustriesSuccess