During conflicts, ground networks are often the first systems to be damaged – endangering army communications and operations.

By Hezy Laing

Israel’s satellite network has become one of the country’s most indispensable strategic assets, and its importance rises sharply in wartime.

From intelligence collection to communications and early‑warning functions, satellites give Israel capabilities that no ground‑based system can fully replace.

But their greatest advantage, according to defense analysts, is their resilience: satellites continue operating even when terrestrial networks are disrupted, damaged, or deliberately targeted.

During conflicts, ground infrastructure is often among the first systems to come under pressure.

Fiber‑optic lines can be severed, cellular towers can be jammed or destroyed, and command‑and‑control hubs can be struck by long‑range rockets or cyberattacks.

Satellites, orbiting hundreds of kilometers above Earth, remain untouched by these disruptions.

This allows the IDF to maintain secure communications, intelligence flows, and operational coordination even in the most challenging conditions.

As one Israeli space expert put it, satellites “float above the battlefield, immune to the chaos below.”

Israel’s Ofeq reconnaissance satellites provide high‑resolution imagery that can be updated multiple times per day, giving commanders real‑time visibility into enemy movements, rocket‑launch sites, and cross‑border activity.

In wartime, this persistent surveillance becomes critical.

Ground sensors may be blinded or destroyed, but satellites continue to deliver a steady stream of intelligence.

This capability proved essential in past conflicts, when rapid identification of launch crews and tunnel shafts shaped the tempo of IDF operations.

Communications satellites add another layer of resilience.

They allow secure links between field units, air assets, naval platforms, and command centers, even if ground‑based communications are degraded.

This redundancy ensures that the IDF can continue coordinating complex operations without interruption.

A former senior defense official noted that “satellite communications are the backbone of wartime command; without them, the system becomes dangerously fragile.”

Early‑warning satellites also play a vital role.

Infrared sensors can detect missile launches within seconds, giving Israel’s air‑defense network precious time to respond.

In a region where adversaries possess increasingly advanced rockets and drones, this speed can mean the difference between interception and impact.

In wartime, every second counts and every disruption carries risk.

Israel’s satellites provide continuity, clarity, and resilience—qualities that become indispensable when the ground beneath is unstable.