Israeli Aircraft Industries/MBT Division EROS A1 satellite - Deployed Configuration
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 20, 2007 - Satnews Daily - Taiwan is considering either buying or leasing one of Israel’s “dual use” Eros (Earth Remote Observation Satellite) satellites, the newest of which is capable of taking sharp pictures of surface objects as small as 70 centimeters (28 inches).
Described by some military analysts as reconnaissance or spy satellites, the two in-orbit Eros satellites—Eros A and Eros B—are owned and operated by the Israeli company, ImageSat International. Taiwan is reportedly interested in the older Eros A that carries a high-resolution camera capable of discerning objects 1.8 meters across. The satellite is in low Earth orbit and carries a price tag of $300 million, according to sources. The newer Eros B can identify objects 70 centimeters across and is now used to monitor Iran’s nuclear program.
Eros A, launched in December 2000, and Eros B, which became operational in June 2006, also provide imaging intelligence to the Israeli government. Each of the satellites passes over Israel and neighboring states four times a day.
Eros A has a planned lifespan of 10 years in orbit and is scheduled to remain in service until 2010, when it will be replaced by the more advanced Eros C.
Taiwan does not operate military satellites on its own, relying instead on the U.S. for most of its military satellite imagery. It is, however, leasing the French-made Edas satellite, which like Eros, is widely considered a spy satellite in civilian guise.
In 2001, Taiwan signed a contract with ImageSat to purchase footage taken by Eros B within Taiwan interests. Military sources said Taiwan hopes to obtain more imagery of China’s military build up in its provinces across Taiwan by investing in the satellite.
ImageSat has a Satellite Operating Partner arrangement with select anchor customers, which is a time-sharing plan that provides exclusive rights to independently task an Eros satellite as it passes over a given area with a maximum radius of 2,000 kilometers.
Foreign sources said Taiwan is one of the primary customers for Eros A, meaning that Taipei can receive and point the camera at any target they want, and receive instant imagery, as the satellite over flies within a 1,000 kilometer from the island.
Taiwan’s rental or outright purchase of an Eros satellite is bound to raise strong protests from Beijing, according to analysts. China considers Taiwan a rogue province and says its military build up along the South China Sea coast is meant to deter Taiwan from declaring independence. China has about 1,000 surface-to-surface missiles aimed at Taiwan, an increasing number of which are satellite guided.
Last September, ImageSat proposed to the Israeli government that it offer imagery from the Ofek-5 spy satellite and future government-owned spy satellites for resale on the commercial market.
ImageSat said it wanted to capitalize on the excess capacity of Israel’s spy satellites as a means of supporting the country’s young satellite industry and meeting increasing world demand for strategic imagery.
It said revenues from sales would fund development of future hybrid Israeli satellites that combine elements from Ofek and Eros, both of which are produced by state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). ImageSat and Israel’s Ministry of Defense would share costs for the new hybrid satellites. IAI, which owns 47 percent of ImageSat, is Israel’s sole satellite maker.
