Ofek 7, under development by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), will use a perfected radar system enableing it to identify objects from a distance of 400 to 600 kilometres (up to 370 miles) by night or day, and regardless of weather conditions. Ofek 6 did not possess those capabilities.

The innovative system, which is known as a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), is similar to the radars installed on fighter planes and drones, the paper said.

"This satellite will provide us with 24-hour surveillance of enemy countries," one of the project heads told Yediot.

According to The Marker, the business supplement of the Haaretz daily, the ministry of defence has asked for an extra 400 to 600 million shekels (up to 140 million dollars) for the construction of two new observation satellites.

Last September, the Ofek 6 failed crashed into the Mediterranean Sea after a technical malfunction with the launcher.

Following the crash, which cost the ministry an estimated 50 million dollars, the ministry decided to build two satellites, launchers, telescopic cameras and radar imaging systems to ensure that there will be no delay in launching the system should a similar mishap occur, The Marker said.

Ofek 7 should be operational within 18 months, the paper added.

The Ofek 6 was considered one of the most advanced satellites in the world and a major asset for Israel's military intelligence services.

The satellite and its launcher were developed by a consortium of high-tech industries including Israel Military Industries, Rafael, Elbit Systems and Elisra.

Israel launched the Ofek 5 satellite in May 2002 to keep an eye on its neighbours, a move that lifted it into an exclusive club of states with satellite programmes.

According to military experts, Ofek 5 circles the earth every 90 minutes, providing pictures of troop movements, missile-launcher locations and the construction of nuclear sites.

It is capable of taking pictures of objects as small as a metre (yard) in length from an altitude of 450 kilometres (280 miles).

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