Page 56 - NAVAL FORCES 03/2017

Regional Focus Middle East

force area commanders, he holds two­star
During Operation “Protective Edge,” rank.
the Israeli Navy made targeted strikes By far the smallest arm of the IDF, the Sea
on Gaza from the Mediterranean.
Corps has not established a marine corps,
although it had created an elite unit of about
300 underwater commandos who have proven
to be highly successful in amphibious assault
and sabotage operations. Its naval air arm is
limited to maritime reconnaissance missions
conducted with aircraft produced by Israel
Aerospace Industries (IAI) and rescue and
surveillance missions performed with helicop­
ters. With a moderate number of landing craft,
Israel could deliver small forces of troops and
armoured equipment for beach landings.
Because most of the potential maritime
threats are found in the Mediterranean region,
most of the fleet is deployed there, the navy’s
primary bases being Haifa and Ashdod. Just
a few vessels are deployed at Eilat in the Red
Sea ­ usually about seven “Dabur” class in­
shore patrol boats and a few other craft.
The discovery of large natural gas deposits
in its offshore exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
in 2009 came as a welcome surprise for Israel,
transforming the energy security outlook of a
country that had relied heavily on imports.
Israel’s Navy is thought to be very good at quirements, develop into the more expansive Although reduced in scope from earlier
what it does, but what it does is extremely lim­ fleet and broader commitment envisioned? plans, a modernisation programme for the Sea
ited: patrols, coastal defence, a small but very With the help of Europe and the US. Corps of Israel approved in 1988 included the
elite commando force, and an alleged subma­ The navy enjoys more autonomy within the acquisition of three “Saar 5” class corvettes to
rine­based nuclear strike capability, as report­ Israel Defense Force (IDF) structure than its be built in the US, three new “Dolphin” class
ed by the media. official designation would suggest. The com­ diesel submarines to be built in Germany and
In practical terms, how does this small force mander has the status of a senior advisor to the upgrading of existing patrol boats. In Plan
and this narrow vision of Israel’s seafaring re­ the chief of staff: in common with the ground Gideon, Israel’s new multi­year modernisation

Patrol boats from
Naval Squadron 916
participate in an exercise
in the Mediterranean Sea.

54 NAVAL FORCES III/2017