Israel Declares Sa’ar 6 Fleet Operational

Israel’s Navy has declared its fleet of Sa’ar 6-class corvettes operational on April 23, more than two years after receiving the first ship.

When first delivered in late 2020 and throughout 2021, the ships were essentially capable only of sailing. Since then, they have been outfitted with advanced sensors, weapons and communication systems, Israel’s media reported.

Three of the four ships have now been declared fully operational, with the fourth — delivered in August 2021 — very close to that stage, nearly two years after it was received.

Sa’ar 6-class corvettes are tasked with protecting the country’s gas field and shipping. These ships are far larger and more powerful than the Sa’ar 5-class warships. While larger in size, the ship shows up as far smaller on radar, thanks to advancements in stealth technology in recent decades.

The Sa’ar 6-class corvettes are named INS “Magen,” meaning shield; “Oz,” meaning valor; “Atzmaut,” meaning independence; and “Nitzahon,” meaning victory. Each is staffed with around 80 sailors.

Each nearly 2,000-ton ship is outfitted with 20 systems, 18 of which are Israeli-made. The systems include a modified version of the Iron Dome system, known as the C-Dome, as well as the Gabriel V and LRAD missile systems, the latter of which can shoot down cruise and ballistic missiles.