The Shavit 1 is a small, 3-stage, solid propellant booster based on the 2-stage Jericho 2 ballistic missile. It is developed under the general management of Israeli Aircraft Industries and has an upperstage designation of AUS-51 (Advanced Upper Stage). The Shavit made its first launch on September 19, 1998, placing the Ofeq 1 engineering technology satellite into LEO. 

Shavit boosters are launched from an undisclosed site near the Palmachim Air Force Base on the coast of Israel south of Tel Aviv. The facility is also sometimes referred to as Yavne. To prevent overflight of foreign territory, Shavits have been launched on a northwest trajectory over the Mediterranean Sea, passing over the Straits of Gibraltar at the west end of the Mediterranean.