Page 59 - NAVAL FORCES 03/2017

Regional Focus Middle East

These are a stretched version of the Sa‘ar 4.5 offered at competitive prices. Moreover, cus- Sea Superiority
design that will incorporate stealth technology. tomers are offered the Total Package Approach is Top Priority
Israel maintains a fleet of 11 fast attack to assure self-sustained operation and compre-
craft, consisting of eight 488t “Hetz” (“Sa‘ar hensive after sales support. Today, the navy is a full partner in IDF-
4.5”) craft and two 415t “Reshef” (“Sa‘ar In early 2016, the Navy conducted a succes- networked operations at Israel’s borders and
4”) craft, all armed with Boeing HARPOON sful test firing of surface-surface missiles beyond, providing strategic depth from the sea
surface-to-surface missiles. The Sea Corps from a “Saar 5” corvette. The test included domain. According to news reports, 60% of all
of Israel also operates 21 54t “Super Dvora” the launch of an RGM-84 HARPOON and IDF special missions in recent years have been
class fast attack craft (gun) and 15 39t “Dabur” a new weapon, assumed to be an indigenous led by the Sea Corps of Israel.
class coastal patrol craft. surface-to-surface missile developed for the As previously mentioned, the navy is
For Israel‘s amphibious infantry forces Navy by IAI, which is known to have been modernising with new “Dolphin” AIP sub-
the navy can deploy one 24t landing craft con tinuing the development of surface-to- marines and four new advanced corvettes are
personnel (LCP) vessel, with a military lift surface missiles beyond GABRIEL 3. on the horizon for the end of the decade – all
of 22 troops and one ton of equipment, and Hints about the possible existence of a new Israeli designed and German built.
three 730t “Ashdod” class landing craft tank Israeli surface attack weapon surfaced in the Interoperability-driven sea superiority is
(LCT). There is one 1,150t “Bat Sheva” class early 2000s, as IAI participated in an interna- critical, as the Israeli Navy is directly connect-
auxiliary vessel. tional tender to equip the new “Formidable” ed to the air force and serves as a floating part
There are maritime surveillance aircraft frigates of the Singaporean Navy; eventually of the latter’s integrated air defence system.
and naval attack helicopters deployed with the Singapore selected the HARPOON missile. All its “Sa’ar-5” corvettes contribute to the
navy but they are regarded as part of the air The GABRIEL 5 was designed to be air defence picture built and maintained by the
force inventory. superior to most contemporary missiles, par- Israeli Air Force, while the navy’s patrol boats
As a side note, the Israeli Navy’s need for ticularly when employed in littoral waters. It are connected to the ground forces by way of
constant modernisation of its combat plat- uses an advanced active radar seeker backed the TORCH Digital Army Programme devel-
forms and systems makes it possible for by sophisticated weapon control to optimise oped by Elbit Systems.
SIBAT, the International Defence Cooperation operational effectiveness in a target-con gested The IDF General Staff has defined sea supe-
Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Defence battlespace. The missile significantly improves riority as a top priority, as it is part of the new
(MoD), to offer excess inventory. High per- target selectivity capabilities, especially in lit- mission of defending Israel’s economic waters
formance, highly integrated combat systems toral waters, typically congested with marine and empowering the Israeli Navy to participate
comprising small to medium sized vessels traffic and interference generating extensive in the land battle.
with exceptional weapons-per-ton ratio are and complex false target signals. NAFO

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