Article

2008-01-21 India-Pakistan

Israeli radar spy satelite placed in orbit

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Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 06:02|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 Haaretz
Satellite launch bolsters ability to spy on Tehran

Israel launched early Monday a sophisticated new spy satellite, designated TECSAR, which could boost intelligence gathering capabilities regarding Iran.

The satellite was sent into orbit from the Sriharikota Launching Range in India, using an Indian rocket.

The TECSAR, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has the ability to use radar to identify targets even under adverse weather conditions including dense clouds.

As such, it differs from Israel's Ofek series of reconnaissance satellites, which rely on cameras.

IAI officials said that the satellite, which weighs some 300 kilograms, was launched at 5:45 A.M. Israel time, and was successfully placed in orbit. IAI ground stations reported receiving signals at 7:10 A.M. showing that all measuring parameters were operating correctly.

Scientists and engineers are now conducting a battery of tests to check the systems and gauge their performance. A first picture from the satellite is expected within two weeks.

The TECSAR launch was postponed a number of times in the past, largely due to weather conditions.

Israel currently operates a number of reconnaissance satellites, including Ofek 5 and Ofek 7, as well as several commercial satellites such as the Amos and EROS series. A total of 11 Israeli satellites have been placed in orbit, a number of them still operational.

The Ofek 5 was launched in May, 2002, and the Ofek 7, last July, from the Palmachim missile range on Israel's coast.

Israel intends to launch another two spy satellites as part of its strategic cooperation commitments

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 06:10|| 2008-01-21 06:10|| Front Page Top

#3 photo of PSLV 'Core' version

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 06:12|| 2008-01-21 06:12|| Front Page Top

#4 BBC reports
Israel reportedly took the decision to launch the satellite from India three years ago, and asked for Delhi's help because it lacks a vehicle capable of boosting the satellite into a polar orbit.

"The kind of low-earth polar orbit they are putting the satellite into, it is meant to give Israel the capability to keep an eye on the Iranian nuclear programme," an unnamed defence analyst told the AFP news agency.

"This is bound to be seen in the Islamic world as a sinister tie-up between Israel and India," he said.

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 06:17|| 2008-01-21 06:17|| Front Page Top

#5 Haaretz commentary....

New Israeli spy satellite sends Iran a message

The pre-dawn launch Monday of a new reconnaissance satellite further establishes Israel as one of the world's superpowers in space, and grants it an important further intelligence advantage over its rivals.

The primary intelligence contribution of the TECSAR satellite, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, lies in improving capabilities of intelligence gathering and coverage over Iran.

Although planned several years ago and delayed a number of times of late, the launch sends anew a message to Iran that Israel continues to maintain its superiority in the field of intelligence in space.

The message coincidentally accompanies last week's high-profile launch of an Israeli Jericho surface-to-surface missile, also intended as a signal to the leaders of Iran.

The launch of an Israeli satellite atop an Indian missile from a launch site in India bears a number of additional advantages. First, it enables Israel to establish a new point of view in space, allowing it photographic angles and reception of Iranian communications which were unavailable in prior satellite launches.

The direction of the launch, from the east and opposite to the earth's rotation, allows Israel increased coverage of sites in Iran. TECSAR's optical capability is based on SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology and on its cameras, which are more advanced than those employed by the Ofek intelligence satellites developed and used by Israel. Image resolution will be better, sharper, and of higher overall quality.

The radar technology aboard TECSAR renders its photo and listening abilities usable under all earth weather conditions, including dense clouds, rain, and storms, and at night as well as during the daylight hours.

One of the world's space superpowers
Even before the Monday launch, Israel could take pride in being one of the world's six superpowers in space, along with the United States, Russia, France, Britain and India. At the moment, Israel has three reconnaissance satellites in space, Ofek 5, launched in May, 2002, Ofek 7, sent into orbit last July, and TECSAR. It also has three communications satellites of the Amos and EROS series. This satellite system furnishes visual and auditory intelligence, interception of media communications, and reception of electromagnetic signals from radar.

The launch is also an expression of the growing cooperation between Israel and India in the security sphere as a whole, and in particular in the fields of missiles, radar, and satellites.

India is currently the most important export market for Israeli weapons systems, hardware, know-how, and technology. A high-level delegation of Indian scientists and military officers, experts in the missile and space fields, is to visit Israel next month, in a further expression of the strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Although command, control, and supervision of the TECSAR will be in Israel's hands, foreign media have reported that Israel will allow India access to some of the data sent back to ground stations. This is a sensitive issue for Israel, because it may spark anger in Pakistan.

On the other hand, Iran, which has close ties with India, which in the past supplied Tehran with materials and equipment for developing chemical weaponry, would be expected to be angry with India over the launch of an Israeli satellite.

Posted by John Frum 2008-01-21 07:46|| 2008-01-21 07:46|| Front Page Top

#6 This is a sensitive issue for Israel, because it may spark anger in Pakistan.

Is there anything that doesn't spark anger in RageBoyland? Why would Israel care?

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-01-21 08:47|| 2008-01-21 08:47|| Front Page Top

#7 Because of its large, non-Arab but Muslim population, Pakistan is seen by many states as an essential state with which to cultivate relations.

Many states had a policy of "equi-distance" towards India and Pakistan, trying not to offend either, not wanting to get too close to either one (and being seen as an ally).

Some in the Israeli foreign ministry would consider it a feather in their cap if they could cement full diplomatic relations with a Muslim country like Pakistan.

Some in Pakistan, worried about the Indian purchases of Israeli weaponry have sought contacts with Israel, seeking to curtail arms flows. The carrot they extend is diplomatic status, but the manufactured anti-semitism in Pakistan has prevented any real progress here.

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 14:02|| 2008-01-21 14:02|| Front Page Top

#8 Good photo of the launch vehicle John - any chance India could launch some stuff for us? After all, that old One-Eyed Stalinist Bastard, Gordon Brown, has just announced an aid package for India worth £825 million over three years.

Does this make sense? We give aid to a nuclear power who can put satellites into space, when we don't have the capability to properly equip our troops in battle!

Lest anyone thing otherwise, I'm having a go at that shit of an unelected Prime Minister we have - who feels he has to give away our money to 'good causes'.

Grrr...

Posted by Tony (UK) 2008-01-21 14:27|| 2008-01-21 14:27|| Front Page Top

#9 Forgot the linky....

Brown announces India aid package

Posted by Tony (UK) 2008-01-21 14:31|| 2008-01-21 14:31|| Front Page Top

#10 any chance India could launch some stuff for us? After all, that old One-Eyed Stalinist Bastard, Gordon Brown, has just announced an aid package for India worth £825 million over three years.

That 825 million pounds could pay for some serious payload capacity.

Each GSLV launcher costs 160 crore rupees = 41 million US dollars

Each PSLV launcher costs 80 crore rupees = 21 million US dollars

(1 crore = 10 million
1 US Dollar = 39.3 Indian rupees)

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 14:41|| 2008-01-21 14:41|| Front Page Top

#11 photo of GSLV
GSLV being assembled
GSLV leaving assembly building
PSLV with strapons

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 14:46|| 2008-01-21 14:46|| Front Page Top

#12 Don't John - you're just making me depressed :(

Posted by Tony (UK) 2008-01-21 14:54|| 2008-01-21 14:54|| Front Page Top

#13 "Meanwhile, across the border,
Gazians unable to equate cause w/effect; still stumbling around in darkness as crude homeade bottle rockets launch toward Israel...."

Posted by USN,Ret. 2008-01-21 14:55|| 2008-01-21 14:55|| Front Page Top

#14 What should really depress you is that that money is going to Bihar.. a bottomless pit for aid money... India's Africa... It will probably be wasted.

More than 2 decades ago a young Indian PM, Rajiv Gandhi enquired about the billions of dollars in development funds he was allocating that didn't seem to help things.
He found out that out of every dollar the Indian government spent, only ten cents went to the target groups.

On NASA earthlight maps, you can pick out Bihar amidst India. At the rate they are electrifying, it will take two hundred years for every village in Bihar to have electricity.
Some villages have fallen off the grid as the electricity poles and wires are stolen.

Politicians there are caste conscious, seeking affirmative action quotas for various tribals, untouchables, muslims etc. Basically, as Lee Kwan Yew pointed out, they are sharing a cake before it is baked, redistributing poverty.

Meanwhile the devil on earth (as the Indian intelligentsia sees him), Narendra Modi has ensured that every village in Gujarat state has running water and electricity. Reliance Industries is doubling the size of their refinery there, making it the world's biggest.

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 15:14|| 2008-01-21 15:14|| Front Page Top

#15 83 days left for TAUVEX launch

A Collaboration between
the Indian Institute of Astrophysics
and Tel Aviv University

TAUVEX is an Indo-Israeli Ultraviolet Imaging Experiment that will image large parts of the sky in the wavelength region between 1400 and 3200 Å. The instrument consists of three equivalent 20-cm UV imaging telescopes with a choice of filters for each telescope. Each telescope has a field of view of about 54' and a spatial resolution of about 6" to 10", depending on the wavelength.

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 16:04|| 2008-01-21 16:04|| Front Page Top

#16 41 degree with respect to the equator, it said.

!
Turks say go!

Posted by Shipman 2008-01-21 17:08|| 2008-01-21 17:08|| Front Page Top

#17 41 degree with respect to the equator, it said.

!
Turks say go!

Posted by Shipman 2008-01-21 17:08|| 2008-01-21 17:08|| Front Page Top

#18 Only said it once tho, then they went back and picked up their Kimmalist Thought Clubs.

Posted by Shipman 2008-01-21 17:31|| 2008-01-21 17:31|| Front Page Top

#19 @ #14:

Ok, I'm officially miserable now.

The West has been pumping 'aid money' into corrupt areas for decades and all that happens is some fat bastard opens a Swiss bank account, usually with a lot of local people dying as well. Brown! - you are a dumbass!

Posted by Tony (UK) 2008-01-21 19:08|| 2008-01-21 19:08|| Front Page Top

#20 One of the most notorious corruption cases in India is the so called Fodder Scam involving the former Chief Minister of Bihar and his cronies.

The entire lot are awaiting trial.

Basically it is alleged that they stole 210 million dollars.

So they probably have the wherewithal to dispose of Brown's 'gift'

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 20:01|| 2008-01-21 20:01|| Front Page Top

#21 Now there is the smart way to give aid and the dumb way.

The Japanese for example funded part of the Delhi Metro System. Japanese companies directly benefited from this. They are also funding the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor. Japanese companies will use the created infrastructure.

So, will British companies benefit? Or will the money be frittered away by NGO fatcats and local politicians?

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 20:15|| 2008-01-21 20:15|| Front Page Top

#22 John - I'm betting on Door #2.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2008-01-21 20:22|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2008-01-21 20:22|| Front Page Top

#23 Yep... #2 looks far more likely...

Posted by john frum 2008-01-21 20:34|| 2008-01-21 20:34|| Front Page Top

#24 ION, WAFF.com > STRATEGYCENTER.NET/KANWA > CHINESE, RUSSIAN DIMENSIONS TO THE 2007 DUBAI AIR SHOW.

Short summary:
* China has ambitions to dev 4-6 aircraft carriers includ suppor task groups.
* China is interested in UAV assets for said aircraft carriers.
* Russia's fifth-gener fighter may launch as early as 2009, China's version circa 2014-2015.
*China has also expressed interes in Russ BERLEV B-2500 MEGALIFTER AMPHIBIOUS PLANE [hypervelocity], capable of lifting up to 1000 tons of cargo + "fly/skim" along at 8000 metres
* China's ASW Doctrine is based on China's SUBMARINES, NOT SURFACE SHIPS, DEALING WID ENEMY SUBS. SURFACE SHIPS are there to cover the protect the PLAN's hunter-killer subs from sea and air threats.
*For time being, Chin is still heavily dependent on Russ for ENGINES TECH.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-01-21 21:39|| 2008-01-21 21:39|| Front Page Top

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