The U.S. Should Back Israel’s Push for Advanced Space Technology

When a Hezbollah missile damaged Israel’s Elah Valley satellite communications station in March, it showed that space power can be threatened on Earth. The IDF’s announcement on October 19 that it had selected the first commander of a planned Space Division was, therefore, an important acknowledgement that satellites and the ground stations that support them have become targets in modern conflict. The new division would connect space technology development with operational planning and specialized training across the military. Its establishment signals that Israel is readying for conflict in space while expanding the satellite capabilities that support operations on Earth — initiatives the United States is also prioritizing. Israel’s Growing Reliance on Satellites Raises the Stakes Jerusalem has operated military satellites for decades. Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) says it collected more than 12,000 satellite images of Iranian territory during the 12-Day War. IMOD launched Ofek 19 in September 2025, a satellite that uses radar to capture imagery at night and through clouds, advancing Israeli geospatial surveillance capabilities. The IDF aims to expand its surveillance fleet to dozens of satellites within several years and eventually hundreds. The strategy behind this is simple: for orbits closer to Earth, more satellites shorten the gaps between passes over the same location, helping commanders continuously monitor changes on the ground. The Israeli Air Force established a Space Directorate in 2024. The new space division would coordinate space planning across the military, although the IDF has not clarified which existing space-related responsibilities it will assume or how the new division will interact with already established space entities. The U.S.-Israel Alliance Extends Into Space Washington and Jerusalem have shared information on satellites and other objects in orbit since 2010. The Space Force held its first bilateral space talks with Israel in 2021. Israeli personnel participated in U.S. Space Command’s (SPACECOM) Global Sentinel 2025, an exercise in tracking objects in orbit and coordinating responses to space threats. Space Force warfighters also provided satellite-based missile warnings that helped Israeli and U.S. forces defend against Iran’s April and October 2024 attacks. The two countries also have established channels for technology cooperation. The U.S.-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group brings together defense officials to identify joint projects, taking advantage of Israel’s defense acquisition agility and America’s economy of scale. In January 2026, the countries announced a broader technology partnership covering space, advanced computing, and computer chips. Both militaries need satellite imagery, communications, and missile warnings. These systems face cyberattacks, radio interference that block satellite signals, and attacks on ground infrastructure. Congress Should Prioritize Space Technology Cooperation Washington and Jerusalem should work together to develop technologies that protect their space systems against these shared threats. Section 219 of the House-passed fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would establish a U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative. A designated Pentagon coordinator would align and expand efforts involving the existing technology working group across the broader U.S. military, including SPACECOM. The initiative would cover joint research, licensing, and production and promote joint training and information sharing. Congress should retain the initiative in final legislation and prioritize military space cooperation. U.S. Space Force and SPACECOM should collaborate with the new IDF division and the existing technology working group to develop joint projects in satellite imagery, secure communications, and protection of ground stations. Sharing information about attacks on these systems would also help both countries prepare for future conflicts. The Pentagon should also consider joint research projects involving the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and IMOD. Priorities could include satellite sensors, secure communications, GPS, uses of AI for space systems, and satellite maneuverability. Space is essential to modern warfare. Israel’s establishment of an IDF-wide Space Division signals to adversaries that it is preparing for next-generation conflict. Washington should welcome this move and work with Jerusalem to build on both countries’ technological strengths and advance space power. Emmerson Overell is a project coordinator at the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where she researches threats to U.S. and allied security in the Arctic, space, and cyberspace. For more analysis from Emmerson and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD and @FDD_CCTI. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.