HAIFA, Israel, 5 Dec. 2012. Satellite designers at Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) at Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel, needed a space camera for the OPTSAT 3000 observation satellite they are building for the Italian government. They found their solution from Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd. (Elop) in Haifa, Israel.

IAI is awarding a contract to Elop worth about $40 million, and involves the Jupiter advanced camera and additional services. Work on the contract should be finished within three and a half years, Elop officials say.

The IAI OPTSAT 3000 is a three axis stabilized, autonomous satellite, designed by a low weight, low power, and high reliability concept.

High geolocation accuracy and an amazing weight to performance ratio. The satellite offers high resolution, high geolocation accuracy, simultaneous panchromatic and multi-spectral imaging capability, high image quality, and a weight of 400 kilograms that enables a wide range of launching options.

The low weight and compact dimensions of the satellite also result in low inertia for agility to take many images, widely spread in one satellite pass.

The IAI OPTSAT is designed for a mission life of more than six years, and is based on the IMPS II bus.

For more information contact Elop online at www.elbitsystems.com/elbitmain/elop, or Israel Aerospace Industries at www.iai.co.il.