Eilat Class (Sa’ar 5)
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Israel Claims Intercept Success with Sea-Based Iron Dome
Israel claimed Wednesday that it successfully intercepted a test salvo of shore-launched short-range rockets with a new sea-based version of the Iron Dome. Col. Ariel Shir, the Israel Navy’s head of combat systems development, said the live fire test was conducted two weeks ago using the Adir radar developed by Israel Aerospace Industries/Elta and the […]
Israeli Navy to Roll Out New C2 System Across Fleet
The Israeli Navy will gradually introduce a new command-and-control (C2) system for all its vessels within three years, according to a senior naval officer. Israel’s order of four Saar 6-class missile corvettes from the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) was the catalyst for developing a new C2 system that can be used across the […]
Israel to Arm Warships with Iron Dome System to Protect Gas Reserves at Sea
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will install its successful Iron Dome missile defence system on warships protecting Israel’s off-shore gas drilling platforms, a temporary measure until new warships acquired in a deal with Germany arrive. Israel has huge and mostly untapped gas fields that cover some 23,000 square km (9,000 square miles) of sea, more […]
Israeli Ship Launches Barak-8 SAM for the First Time
A Barak-8 naval surface-to-air missile (SAM) was launched from a ship for the first time on 26 November and successfully intercepted a target drone. The Barak-8 is being developed for both the Israeli and Indian navies, with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) acting as prime contractor. The test firing was conducted by the Israeli Navy ship […]
Israeli Navy Readies Defenses Around Strategically Vital Gas Drilling Rigs
Some 25 kilometers off the Israeli coastline, under a searing late summer sun, the INS Lahav Sa’ar-5 class missile ship slowed down, coming to a stop near a drilling rig in the Yam Tethys gas field. Nearby, a Rafael-produced Protector unmanned sea vehicle, equipped with a remote control weapons station, sped through the shiny blue […]
Reliant Mermaid 2015 Wraps Up
The U.S. Navy participated in the regularly-scheduled exercise, Reliant Mermaid 2015, from Aug. 9-13, in the Mediterranean Sea with our partner and ally, Israel. Quick Facts: Reliant Mermaid is an annual maritime search and rescue exercise designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of participating nations, as well as promoting friendship, […]
Navy’s Missile Boat Fleet Chief: Hezbollah’s Anti-Ship Cruise Missile is a Serious Threat
The less-than-idyllic vistas of the Middle Eastern shores has been part of the operational routine of the outgoing commander of the Navy’s Missile Boats Flotilla (Shayetet 3), Col. Eyal Harel, and his fighters, over the past three years. After nine years as a commander at sea, Harel has turned into one of the few officers […]
Israel Navy To Upgrade Combat Surface Fleet
The Israel Navy is upgrading its entire combat surface fleet with new German-built, Israeli-equipped Sa’ar-6 corvettes and the integration of new radars and electronic warfare (EW) systems in existing Sa’ar-5 and Sa’ar 4.5 ships. Procurement and retrofit of the new radars, developed by Elta Systems, and the combined active and passive EW suite by Elbit […]
Israel Navy has New Weapon to Counter Hezbollah
Israel’s navy has a new weapon in the fight against threats from Syria and Hezbollah. Its newly installed “MF-STAR” radar system is designed to counter the Yakhont (S-800) anti-ship missiles used by both. The IDF says that the radar, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has a greater range in comparison to the previous generation […]
Israel, Greek and US Navies Kick Off Annual Med Sea Drill
Israeli, Greek and US military personnel are slated to meet in Crete Tuesday to kick off Noble Dina 2014, a two-week, trilateral exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. This year’s annual multimission drill, the fourth conducted by the three nations, will involve hundreds of military personnel deployed on advanced surface ships, air assets and submarines, Navy […]
Iran’s Maritime Mirage
Iran is doing enough damage in the Middle East through unconventional methods without requiring a robust navy. That is why an idea floated by a key Iranian military leader to build naval bases in Yemen and Syria makes absolutely no sense. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of Iran’s armed forces general staff, suggested last month that […]
Israel’s Naval Iron Dome: Ideal for Qatar, But A Deal Not Likely
Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveiled the “C-Dome” system at last week’s Euronaval conference in France. The system, which some are calling “Naval Iron Dome,” will enable sea vessels to knock down threats from the sky, including aircraft and missiles. The system will be particularly useful to Israel as it develops new platforms for […]
Russian Yakhont Missiles in Hezbollah’s Hands
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that US officials believe the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah is receiving advanced guided-missiles from Syria despite efforts by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take them out. If true, this could severely hinder Israel’s ability to operate against the Shiite group in the future. US officials, according to the […]