INS Magen

Last updated

INS Magen. II.jpg
INS Magen at Kiel in November 2020
History
Naval Ensign of Israel.svgIsrael
Name
  • Magen
  • (מגן)
Namesake Magen
OrderedMay 2015
Builder
Laid down7 February 2018
Launched12 May 2019
Acquired2 December 2020
Commissioned11 November 2020
StatusActive
Badge EmblemINSMagen.jpg
General characteristics
Class and type Sa'ar 6-class corvette
Displacement1,900 long tons (1,900 t) at full load [1]
Length90 m (295 ft 3 in)
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) [2]
Sensors and
processing systems
EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar
Armament

INS Magen (English: Shield) is a Sa'ar 6-class corvette of the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 3 fleet. She is the first ship of her class to be commissioned.

Contents

Development and design

The Sa'ar 6-class corvettes' design will be loosely based on the German Braunschweig-class corvette, but with engineering changes to accommodate Israeli-built sensors and missiles such as the Barak 8 [3] and the naval Iron Dome system. Elbit Systems has been awarded the contract to design and build the electronic warfare (EW) suites for the ships.[ citation needed ]

The Sa'ar 6-class vessels have a displacement of almost 1,900 tons at full load and is 90 m (295 ft 3 in) long. They are armed with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun, two Typhoon Weapon Stations, 32 vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, 40 cells for the C-Dome point defense system, 16 anti-ship missiles Gabriel V. [4] [5] the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar, and two 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo launchers. They have hangar space and a platform able to accommodate a medium class SH-60-type helicopter. [6]

Construction and career

She was laid down on 7 February 2018 and launched on 12 May 2019 at German Naval Yards and ThyssenKrupp in Kiel. She was handed over to Israeli Navy on 2 December and commissioned on 11 November 2020. [7] [8] In Haifa in September 2022, the vessel's 76/62 rapid-fire main gun was ceremonially accepted for her and her sister ship Oz. [9]

Operational history

In February 2022, the INS Magen took part in an exercise in the Mediterranean. Among other things, missile defense and unmanned vehicles were tested. During the exercise, training was given to repel missiles from Iran. [10]

It was also deployed in the red sea following Houthi attacks on Israeli and non-Israeli ships during the Red Sea crisis [11] [12]

On 8th April 2024 the C-Dome battery of the Sa'ar 6-class corvette INS Magen scored the first operational interception of the system when it shot down a UAV drone near Eilat. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corvette</span> Small warship

A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloop-of-war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertical launching system</span> Modern system for holding and firing missiles on naval vessels

A vertical launching system (VLS) is an advanced system for holding and firing missiles on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and submarines. Each vertical launch system consists of a number of cells, which can hold one or more missiles ready for firing. Typically, each cell can hold a number of different types of missiles, allowing the ship flexibility to load the best set for any given mission. Further, when new missiles are developed, they are typically fitted to the existing vertical launch systems of that nation, allowing existing ships to use new types of missiles without expensive rework. When the command is given, the missile flies straight up far enough to clear the cell and the ship, then turns onto the desired course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli Navy</span> Maritime service branch of the Israel Defense Forces

The Israeli Navy is the naval warfare service arm of the Israel Defense Forces, operating primarily in the Mediterranean Sea theater as well as the Gulf of Eilat and the Red Sea theater. The current commander in chief of the Israeli Navy is Aluf David Saar Salama. The Israeli Navy is believed to be responsible for maintaining Israel's offshore nuclear second strike capability.

Saar 4-class fast attack craft

The Sa'ar 4 or Reshef class were a series of fast attack craft built based on Israeli Navy designs grounded in accumulated experience derived in the operation of "Cherbourg" classes. Thirteen were built at the Israel Shipyards, ten for the Israeli Navy and three for the South African Navy. Another six were built for the South African Navy in South Africa with Israeli assistance.

Saar 4.5-class missile boat Israeli missile boat

The Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boats is a class of Israeli Sea Corps missile boats designed and built by Israel Shipyards Ltd. for Shayetet 3 flotilla as an improved and stretched Sa'ar 4-class missile boat. There are two different subclasses that are both named Sa'ar 4.5. The first subclass was initially called Chochit, but renamed to Aliya. Two Aliya-subclass boats are in service with the Mexican Navy. The second subclass was initially called Nirit but renamed to Hetz.

Saar 5-class corvette Class of Israeli Navy small corvettes

Sa'ar 5 is a class of Israeli Navy corvettes. They were Israeli designed using lessons learned from the Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boats. Three Sa'ar 5 ships were built by Huntington Ingalls Industries for the Israeli Navy, based on Israeli designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OTO Melara 76 mm</span> Naval artillery piece

The OTO Melara 76 mm gun, marketed as the OTO 76/62 Gun Mount, is a naval autocannon built and designed by the Italian defence company OTO Melara. It is based on the OTO Melara 76/62C and evolved toward 76/62 SR and 76/62 Strales.

<i>Godavari</i>-class frigate Class of frigates in India

The Godavari-class frigates were guided-missile frigates of the Indian Navy. The Godavari class was the first significant indigenous warship design and development initiative of the Indian Navy. Its design is a modification of the Nilgiri class with a focus on indigenous content of 72%, a larger hull and updated armaments. The class and the lead ship, INS Godavari were named after the Godavari River. Subsequent ships in the class, INS Ganga and INS Gomati also took their names from Indian rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriel (missile)</span> Anti-ship missile

Gabriel is a family of sea skimming anti-ship missiles manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The initial variant of the missile was developed in the 1960s in response to the needs of the Israeli Navy which first deployed it in 1970. Since then, variants have been exported to navies around the world. The latest variant, the Gabriel V, is in use by the Finnish and Israeli navies as of 2020.

INS <i>Hanit</i> Saar 5-class corvette of the Israeli Navy

INSHanit(503) is a Sa'ar 5-class corvette of the Israeli Navy's 3rd Flotilla, built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in 1994. During the 2006 Lebanon War INS Hanit served as the flagship of the Israeli navy. On 14 July 2006, it was damaged after being struck by a Hezbollah C-701 anti-ship missile.

INS <i>Lahav</i> Saar 5-class corvette of the Israeli Navy

INS Lahav (502)(translated as blade) is a Sa'ar 5-class corvette of the Israeli Navy's 3rd Flotilla that was built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in 1993. She is one of three Sa'ar 5-class corvettes in service with the Israeli Navy and her homeport is Haifa, Israel.

INS <i>Kochi</i> Indian Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyer

INS Kochi (D64) is the second ship of the Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyers built under the code name Project 15A for the Indian Navy. She was constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. After undergoing extensive sea trials, she was commissioned to Indian Navy service on 30 September 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israel Shipyards</span> Israeli shipbuilding and repair company

Israel Shipyards is a large shipbuilding and repair facilities in the eastern Mediterranean. The company also operates a privately owned port in Israel. The company's facilities are located at the Kishon Port.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barak 8</span> Medium to long-range surface-to-air missile

Barak 8, also known as LR-SAM or MR-SAM, is an Indian-Israeli jointly developed surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and combat jets. Both maritime and land-based variants of the system exist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EL/M-2248 MF-STAR</span> Israeli naval defense radar system

The EL/M-2248 MF-STAR is a GaN based multifunction active electronically scanned array naval radar system developed by IAI Elta for maritime installation on warships. It is capable of tracking both air and surface targets and providing fire control guidance. MF-STAR is an acronym of Multi-Function Surveillance, Track And Guidance Radar.

Saar 6-class corvette Class of Israeli Navy corvettes ordered in 2015

The Sa'ar 6-class corvette is a series of four German-made corvettes ordered for the Israeli Navy in May 2015. These are operated by Shayetet 3 flotilla.

INS <i>Oz</i> Saar-class corvette

INS Oz is a Sa'ar 6-class corvette of the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 3 Flotilla. She is the second ship of her class.

INS <i>Atzmaut</i> Saar 6-class corvette

INS Atzmaut is a Sa'ar 6-class corvette of the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 3 Flotilla. She is the third ship of her class.

INS <i>Nitzachon</i> Saar 6-class corvette

INS Nitzachon is a Sa'ar 6-class corvette of the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 3 Flotilla. She is the fourth ship of her class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shayetet 3</span> Military unit

The Missile Ship Fleet, officially called Shayetet 3, is the main surface combat force of the Israeli Navy. The fleet was established in 1967 and includes 15 missile ships of the Saar 4.5, Saar 5 and Saar 6 models. In addition, the Ahi Bat Yam auxiliary ship is under its command. It is the only fleet of the Israeli Navy operating Surface vessels.

References

  1. "Israeli Navy INS Magen corvette officially named". shephardmedia.com. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. 26 May 2019 Archived 15 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Opall-Rome, Barbara (4 August 2016). "Israeli Navy Marks Milestones at German Shipyards". defensenews.com. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  4. Dombe, Ami Rojkes (29 September 2020). "Sea-to-sea missile test conducted". israeldefense.co.il. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  5. Adamcyzk, Ed (25 September 2020). "Israel tests new sea-to-sea missile". UPI. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  6. "Design of Future TKMS Built Saar 6 MEKO A100 Corvettes for Israeli Navy Unveiled", navyrecognition.com, 23 August 2015, archived from the original on 6 June 2016, retrieved 27 January 2021
  7. Arkin, Dan (7 October 2020). "Report: New 'Magen' warship to be delivered to Israeli Navy in December". israeldefense.co.il. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. Kanig, Christian (12 November 2020). "Korvette "Magen" kurz vor der Abreise nach Israel". ESUT - Europäische Sicherheit & Technik (in German). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. "Israeli Navy Accepts Leonardo Main Gun for Saar 6 corvettes". 15 September 2022.
  10. "Israel completes successful live-fire testing of 'naval Iron Dome'". JNS.org. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  11. "Israeli navy Successfully deploys saar 6 missile ship in red sea".
  12. "Israeli navy's saar 6 ship successfully deployed in the red sea".
  13. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-rafaels-c-dome-makes-first-operational-interception-1001475989