Israeli Navy Receives Second Sa’ar 6 Corvette from Germany
The Israeli Navy has received the second of four Sa’ar 6-class corvettes from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
ThyssenKrupp Naval Systems (TKMS) in Kiel hosted a handover ceremony for the second SA’AR 6 corvette. Israeli ambassador to Germany Jeremy Issacharoff, Managing Director of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Dr. Rolf Wirtz and the naval commander Rear Admiral Ariel Shear were among those who attended the ceremony as attendance was kept to a minimum because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Oz was the name given to the corvette. Oz, which in Hebrew means “courage,” and represents the willpower required to defend Israel’s gas towers and fields in the Eastern Mediterranean with a new strategic defensive capability.
The corvettes “will form the backbone of the Israeli Navy for the next thirty years,” according to the German shipyard.
In May 2015, Israel and Germany signed a contract for the construction of four Sa’ar 6 corvettes. Following the design process, the first ship, the “INS Magen,” began construction in February 2018 with a steel cutting ceremony. The ship was launched just 15 months after the first steel cut. The remaining two ships in the contract, which involves the construction of four ships, are expected to be delivered to the Israeli Navy in 2021.
The Sa’ar 6 is based on the German-built MEKO 100 patrol corvette, which is capable of handling a wide range of missions.
Technical Specifications:
- Displacement: 1900 tons
- Length: 90 meters
- Range: 4000-4600 nautical miles
- Width: 13 Meters
- Sensors: EL / M-2248 MF-STAR AESA Radar
Weapon Systems:
- 1 76mm Auto Melera main gun
- 2 x 25mm Typhoon UKSS
- 32-40 VLS (Barak-8 sea-to-air missiles or C-Dome loaded)
- 16 Gabriel V anti-ship missiles
- 2 324 mm torpedo tubes
- 1 general purpose helicopter
The majority of the ship’s weapons and radar systems, as well as additional systems, will be installed in Israel.
During the ceremony, Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems said:
“As the first ship in the history of the Israeli Navy with this name, the “INS Oz” will establish a new tradition. We are convinced of this here at Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, because she has everything it takes. We are very proud that, after the first-of-class, this is now the second vessel to receive this honor.”
Rear Admiral Ariel Shir said during the event:
“Today is a great and historic day for the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces and of course the Israeli Navy. This is a day when a vision becomes reality. A day when we can see this vision in all its grandeur, thanks to the hard work tirelessly contributed by so many.”
Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff also added that; “this corvette is a unique synthesis of German and Israeli technology and the result of the close collaboration required to build such an impressive ship,” concluding that “for me, the ship symbolizes Israeli-German cooperation at its best.”