Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) subsidiary Elta has unveiled a technology demonstrator for a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) reconnaissance satellite. IAI was contracted in 2003 to develop and manufacture a SAR satellite for the Israeli Defence Forces.
The Israeli ministry of defence has made an $80 million down payment on the programme. Sources say a foreign country is sharing the development costs and will in return receive a SAR satellite. Israel has a requirement for a radar-imaging satellite to complete its long-range intelligence-gathering capability.
Source: Flight International
