Despite years of delay, the Defense Ministry on Thursday took another move to modernize the Israel Navy. It signed a NIS 2.8 billion deal to acquire five advanced Reshef missile ships from Israel Shipyards.
These ships are 1000 tons lighter than the new Saar 6 ships. They are intended to replace the Saar 4.5 ships at the level of a maritime vehicle that can move faster and be more maneuverable.Defense Ministry Director-General Eyal Zamir approved the deal after the Ministerial Procurement Committee and the Knesset Joint Committee on the Defense Budget gave the green light.
Announcements about the deal being imminent had been made in 2021 and in mid-2023, but for reasons that remain unclear, the Ministerial Procurement Committee had never approved the deal.
The deal was approved only months after the committee of former national security council adviser Yaakov Nagel made defense establishment-wide recommendations for building up and replacing aspects of the military.While prior announcements had talked about the ships possibly being ready in 2027, the latest announcement referenced 2031 and said additional vessels could be purchased in the future.Besides the new Reshef deal, the navy in recent years integrated the German-made Saar 6 as one of its larger and heavier firepower ships and is moving toward acquiring new submarines from Germany.In contrast to those ships, the Defense Ministry said, “Manufacturing the ships in Israel will strengthen security and ensure continuity of production and support for the IDF.”“The Reshef Missile Ship will be the Israel Navy’s newest and most advanced Sa’ar-class ship,” it said. “This multi-mission vessel was developed in collaboration with the Israel Navy, incorporating the best-advanced weapon systems from Israel’s defense industry.”“The ship integrates advanced technologies to provide exceptional capabilities and naval superiority for the IDF,” the Defense Ministry said, adding that once these new vessels are up and running, the Nirit Sa’ar 4.5-class missile ship will be decommissioned after four decades of service.
Expanding maritime capabilities
Israel Navy Cmdr. Maj.-Gen. David Saar Salama, Defense Ministry Deputy Director-General and head of the Defense Procurement Directorate Zeev Landau, and Israel Shipyards chairman Samy Katsav attended the Defense Ministry’s announcement.The deal “represents an integration of security, economic, and industrial priorities,” Zamir said. “These new vessels will strengthen the Israel Navy’s expanding maritime capabilities. Manufacturing them locally in Israel will maintain and grow the nation’s exclusive strategic production line for combat vessels and enhance operational independence and continuity while securing hundreds of jobs in Israel.”Israel Shipyards was established in 1959 and is credited with being one of the first Western-affiliated countries to produce a fast attack missile boat, the Saar 4, which preceded the Saar 4.5.