Israel’s Unit 9900, the IDF’s visual and geospatial intelligence arm, usually works deep in the shadows.
But with the launch of the Ofek 19 spy satellite and the Israel Defense Prize awarded to Squadron 122, the public has been given a rare glimpse of its operations.
Unit 9900 specializes in collecting visual and geographic intelligence through satellites, planes, UAVs, and drones. Its mission is to take raw data from the field and process it into actionable “golden knowledge,” supporting ground maneuvers, defense, and target generation.
The work does not stop with collection; it flows through what officers call the “intelligence value chain” – from gathering to analysis and finally to delivering insights directly to soldiers in the field.