Israel Aerospace Industries Inks $120 Million Satellite Deal With Azerbaijan

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a state-run Israeli aerospace and defense firm, and Azerbaijan’s space agency, Azercosmos, announced on Tuesday the signing of a $120 million deal for two cutting-edge multispectral electro-optical satellites. The satellites boast a native resolution of better than 0.5 meters and advanced imaging capabilities, along with an extended operational lifespan.

According to Israeli business news site Globes, the satellites in question are the IAI OptSat 500 models, designed for use in both standalone and constellation setups. They offer wide-range coverage and are compatible with a variety of launchers.

The deal was struck during the 74th International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. As per the agreement, IAI will impart technology and expertise for the construction and operation of the satellites, which will become part of Azerbaijan’s Azersky-2 satellite program.