The military equipment of Israel includes a wide array of arms, armored vehicles, artillery, missiles, planes, helicopters, and warships. Many of these are purchased overseas and many are indigenous designs. Until the Six-Day War of 1967, the Israel Defense Forces' principal supplier was France; since then, it has been the United States government and defense companies in the United States. In the early 21st century, Israeli companies (such as Soltam Systems) began selling arms to the United States. [1] Much military equipment undergoes improvements in Israeli workshops.
In addition to weapons purchased overseas and indigenous products, Israel also operates and maintains large stockpiles of Soviet-made equipment, captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab–Israeli conflict. [2]
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the military equipment in the IDF was very diverse and inconsistent. This was due to the severe limitation in obtaining war materiel (the British Mandate and the Arab embargo). During the 1950s, the IDF began the process of standardization, relying primarily on French military equipment.
During the Six-Day War, the military cooperation with France ceased (the French Weapons Embargo of 1967) and Israel began to rely on American weaponry and on local research and development. During the 1980s and 1990s, the IDF increased its supplies of American arms, armor and aircraft, aiming for technological superiority over Arab countries, toward "a smaller, smarter army".
The reliance on locally manufactured military equipment has also greatly increased. Today, the overwhelming majority of Israel's military equipment is either manufactured in the United States (and often modified in Israeli workshops), or is developed and manufactured locally, with an increasing emphasis on advanced technology, including aerospace and electronics.
Some of the military equipment developed locally have been:
Name | Image | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pistols | |||||
Jericho 941 [4] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | Israel | Used by IDF and IDF Special Forces | |
Glock 17 [5] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | Austria | Used by IDF Special Forces | |
Glock 19 [6] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | Austria | Used by IDF Special Forces | |
Browning Hi-Power [6] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | Belgium | ||
SIG Sauer P226 [6] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | Switzerland | Used by IDF Special Forces. | |
Beretta M1951 [4] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | Italy | ||
Heckler & Koch P11 [4] | Underwater pistol | 7.62×36mm | Germany | ||
Submachine guns | |||||
IMI Uzi [7] | Submachine gun | 9×19mm | Israel | Uzi, Mini-Uzi, Micro-Uzi, and Uzi-Pro used. | |
Ingram MAC-10 [4] | Submachine gun | 9×19mm | United States | ||
IWI X95 [4] | Submachine gun and bullpup assault rifle | 9×19mm variant | Israel | 9x19mm suppressed variant used by IDF Special Forces | |
Semi-automatic rifle | |||||
Suppressed Ruger 10/22 [6] [8] | | Semi-automatic rifle | .22 LR | United States | Adopted for non-lethal crowd control. |
Assault rifles | |||||
Tavor X95 (Micro-Tavor Dor Gimel) [ citation needed ] | Bullpup assault rifle/Carbine/Service rifle | 5.56x45mm | Israel | Improved version of the X95 with longer barrel. | |
IWI X95 (Micro-Tavor) [4] | Bullpup Assault rifle/Carbine | 5.56x45mm | Israel | Compact version of the TAR-21. Standard Issue rifle since 2009 replacing the TAR-21. | |
IWI Tavor TAR-21 [4] | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Israel | Cut from service as of 2009 and replaced by the X95. | |
M4A1 Carbine [4] | Carbine/Assault rifle/Service rifle | 5.56×45mm | United States | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with M16, CAR-15, and X95 and used by Special Forces | |
M16A1 [9] | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | United States | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with the M4, CAR-15, M16A2 and X95. Most of the long-barreled rifles were modified to have short barrel and a telescoping stock, the rest are reserved for basic training and ceremonial issues | |
M16A2 [ citation needed ] | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | United States | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with the M4, CAR-15, M16A1 and X95. Most of the M16A2 is firing automatic, some to custom for DMR and rest are ceremonial issues. | |
CAR-15 [6] | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | United States | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with M4, M16A1, and X95 | |
IMI Galil [4] [7] | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Israel | Used in limited numbers. Variants used are Galil AR and Galil SAR. Most Galil's have been replaced by the improved (Galil) IWI ACE. | |
IMI Micro Galil [ citation needed ] | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Israel | Used in limited numbers. Highly compact version of the Galil. Most Galil's have been replaced by the improved (Galil) IWI ACE. | |
AKM [4] [7] [10] | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab–Israeli conflict and was used by Special Forces due to their high reliability. | |
AK-47 [4] [7] [10] | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab–Israeli conflict and was used by Special Forces due to their high reliability. | |
Battle rifles | |||||
M14 [4] | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm | United States | Used in limited numbers by the IDF. | |
Light machine gun | |||||
IMI Negev [4] | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm | Israel | Capable of firing semi-automatic or full-auto. The 5.56 variant features a unique dual feed system, it can accept 30 round STANAG magazines and an assault-box belt. | |
Medium machine gun | |||||
M1919 Browning [ citation needed ] | Medium machine gun | .30-06 Springfield | United States | ||
General-purpose machine guns | |||||
FN MAG [11] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm | Belgium | Former Standard Issue to IDF Since 1960s to 1990s as a Main Machine Gun. | |
Negev NG7 [ citation needed ] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm | Israel | Capable of semi-automatic or full-automatic fire. | |
PKM [6] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×54mmR | Soviet Union | Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab–Israeli conflict and used by Special Forces. | |
M60 [ citation needed ] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | United States | Limited use. | |
Heavy machine guns | |||||
Browning M2 (Makach 0.5) [4] | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×99mm | United States | Upgraded to M2HB-QCB | |
Shotguns | |||||
Armsel Striker [ citation needed ] | Revolving riot shotgun | 12 Gauge | South Africa | Used for riot control | |
Designated marksman rifles | |||||
M4A1 Kala Sa'ar [ citation needed ] | Designated marksman rifle | 5.56×45mm | United States | Accurized M4A1, used by "kala sa'ar" marksmen. | |
SR-25 Mk 11 [6] | Designated marksman rifle/Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | United States | Used by IDF Special Forces. Also employed as a sniper rifle. | |
Tavor X-95L "Micro-Tavor Kala'im"[ citation needed ] | Designated marksman rifle | 5.56×45mm | Israel | Accurized Micro-Tavor X95 with longer barrel, used by "kala sa'ar" marksmen. | |
Sniper rifles | |||||
M24 SWS [6] | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | United States | Standard-issued sniper rifle, achieves accuracy of 0.5 MOA with IMI ammo. | |
IDF Modernized M24 SWS [6] | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | United States | Standard-issued sniper rifle, achieves accuracy of 0.5 MOA with IMI ammo. | |
Mauser 86SR [6] | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | Germany | Used for counter-terrorism operations. | |
Barak (HTR 2000) [ citation needed ] | Long-range sniper rifle | .338 Lapua Magnum | United States | An IDF modified H-S Precision Pro Series 2000 HTR rifle | |
Barrett M82A1 | Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×99mm | United States | Used mainly by the Combat Engineering Corps and IDF Special Forces | |
McMillan TAC-50 [ citation needed ] | Long range sniper rifle/Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×99mm | United States | Used by IDF Special Forces. | |
Barrett MRAD [ citation needed ] | Multi-role sniper rifle (field sniping / counter-terrorism / long-range) | 7.62×51mm .338 Lapua Magnum | United States | Used by Special Forces and also by Israeli Police elite CT unit YAMAM. Achieves accuracy of 0.35-0.5 MOA (1.1 cm groups in 100 m). | |
Barrett REC10[ citation needed ] | Semi-automatic sniper rifle (counter-terrorism) | 7.62×51mm | United States | Use by the IDF special forces and also by Israeli Police. Achieves accuracy of around 0.75 MOA. | |
IWI Dan [ citation needed ] | Long-range sniper rifle | .338 Lapua Magnum | Israel | ||
Hand grenades | |||||
M26A2 [ citation needed ] | Fragmentation grenade | n/a | Israel | Based on the American M26 grenade | |
IDF M48 [ citation needed ] | Stun grenade | n/a | Israel | Based on the American M84 stun grenade |
Name | Image | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
B-300 Shipon [ citation needed ] | Shoulder-launched rocket | 96 mm | Israel | ||
M72 LAW [ citation needed ] | Shoulder-launched rocket | 66 mm | United States | ||
MATADOR [ citation needed ] | Shoulder-launched rocket | 90 mm | Israel Singapore | ||
M203 [4] | Under-barrel grenade launcher | 40 mm | United States | Usually mounted under an M16, M4, CAR-15, or X95. Mounted on X95's with longer barrels and large trigger guard instead of the standard pistol grip guard. | |
Mk 19 [4] | Automatic grenade launcher | 40 mm | United States | ||
Mk 47 Striker [ citation needed ] | Automatic grenade launcher | 40 mm | United States |
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spike [ citation needed ] | Anti-tank missile | Israel | Used various models of the family, including Gil (Spike-MR) and Gil 2 (Spike-LR II), Spike-ER (I and II) and Tamouz (Spike NLOS). | |
BGM-71 TOW [ citation needed ] | Anti-tank missile | United States | ||
LAHAT [ citation needed ] | Anti-tank missile | Israel | ||
MAPATS [ citation needed ] | Anti-tank missile | Israel | ||
Nimrod [ citation needed ] | Long-range anti-tank missile | Israel |
Name | Image | Type | Number | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Main battle tanks (400) | |||||
Merkava Mark 4M | Main battle tank | ~400 [12] | Israel | ~200 stored. [12] | |
Merkava Mark IV | Main battle tank | Israel | |||
Merkava Mark 3 | Main battle tank | Israel | ~700 stored. [12] | ||
Armoured personnel carriers (1,360) | |||||
M113 | Armored personnel carrier | 500 active [13] 5,000 in storage [13] | United States Israel | Was used until the Battle of Shuja'iyya incident | |
IDF Achzarit | Heavy armored personnel carrier | ~100 [12] | Israel | Based on the T-54 tank | |
Nagmachon | Heavy armored personnel carrier | N/A [12] | United Kingdom Israel | Based on the Centurion tank | |
Nakpadon | Heavy armored personnel carrier | N/A [12] | United Kingdom Israel | Based on the Centurion tank | |
Nakpuma[ citation needed ] | Heavy combat engineering/Armored personnel carrier | N/A | United Kingdom Israel | Based on the Centurion tank | |
Namer | Heavy armored personnel carrier | ~290 [12] | Israel | 531 planned to be in service by 2027. Based on the Merkava chassis. | |
Eitan | Armored fighting vehicle/Armored personnel carrier | N/A [12] | Israel | Equipped with Iron Fist APS | |
Utility vehicles | |||||
Wolf [ citation needed ] | Armored vehicle | 300 | Israel | ||
AIL Storm [ citation needed ] | Utility vehicle | 700 | Israel | ||
HMMWV [ citation needed ] | Utility vehicle | 2,000+ | United States | ||
MDT David [ citation needed ] | Utility vehicle | 400 | United Kingdom Israel | Based on the Land Rover Defender | |
Plasan Sand Cat | Utility vehicle | N/A [12] | Israel | ||
Otokar Akrep [ citation needed ] | Armored vehicle | 30 | Turkey | [14] | |
Trucks | |||||
AIL Abir [ citation needed ] | 4×4 truck | N/A | Israel | ||
M35 [ citation needed ] | 8×12 truck | N/A | United States | ||
Unimog 437[ citation needed ] | Heavy truck | N/A | Germany | ||
HEMTT [ citation needed ] | 8×8 heavy truck | N/A | United States | ||
Engineering vehicles | |||||
Puma | Heavy combat engineering vehicle | N/A [12] | United Kingdom Israel | Based on the Centurion tank | |
Namer CEV | Heavy combat engineering vehicle | N/A [12] | Israel | Based on the Merkava tank | |
IDF Caterpillar D9 [ citation needed ] | Combat armored bulldozer | 175+ | United States Israel | Bulldozer manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel. | |
IDF Caterpillar Excavator 330 [ citation needed ] | Armored tracked excavator | N/A | United States Israel | Excavators manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel. | |
IDF Caterpillar 966 Wheeled Loader[ citation needed ] | Armored wheeled loader | N/A | United States Israel | Loaders manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel. | |
M548 Alfa [ citation needed ] | Cargo and ammunition carrier | N/A | United States Israel | Based on the M113 | |
M60 AVLB | Armored bridge layer | N/A [12] | United States | ||
Nemmera [ citation needed ] | Armored recovery vehicle | N/A | Israel | Based on the Merkava | |
M88 | Armored recovery vehicle | N/A [12] | United States | ||
Nagmapop [ citation needed ] | Command and surveillance vehicle | N/A | United Kingdom Israel | Based on the Centurion tank | |
AIL Desert Raider [ citation needed ] | Dune buggy | N/A | Israel | ||
VIPeR [ citation needed ] | Unmanned ground vehicle | N/A | Israel | ||
Guardium [ citation needed ] | Unmanned ground vehicle | N/A | Israel | ||
Dawn Thunder/Black Thunder [ citation needed ] | Unmanned armored bulldozer | N/A | United States Israel | Based on the IDF Caterpillar D9N [15] | |
IDF D9T Panda [ citation needed ] | Unmanned armored bulldozer | N/A | United States Israel | Based on the IDF Caterpillar D9 |
Name | Image | Type | Number in service [16] | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Self-propelled howitzers | |||||
M109 Doher | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | 250 [12] | United States Israel | Upgraded as the M109 Doher. Based on the M109A5. Replacement program initiated, [17] candidates include ATMOS 2000 and the Artillery Gun Module. [18] Used in limited numbers 30 M109A2 in store [12] | |
M107 | 175mm self-propelled howitzer | United States | 36 in store [12] | ||
M110 | 203mm self-propelled howitzer | United States | 36 in store [12] | ||
Towed howtizers | |||||
M-46 | 155mm howtizer | Soviet Union | 40 modernized in store [12] | ||
M-68/M-71 | 155mm howitzer | Israel | 50 in store [12] | ||
M-839P/M845P | 155mm howitzer | Israel | 81 in store [12] | ||
Mortars | |||||
Cardom SP | 120 mm self-propelled mortar | Israel | Khanit [12] | ||
Soltam M-65 | 120 mm mortar | Israel | 650 in store [12] | ||
Soltam M-66 | 160mm mortar | Israel | 18 in store [12] | ||
Anti-tank missile launcher | |||||
M113 Tamuz | Missile launching vehicle | N/A | Israel | Spike missiles launched from an M113 chassis [19] | |
Multiple launch rocket system/Ballistic missiles | |||||
LAR-160 | 160 mm MLRS | Israel | 50 in store [12] | ||
M270 "Menatetz" | 270mm MLRS | 30 [12] | United States Israel | 18 in store. | |
PULS | 306mm MLRS | N/A [12] | Israel | ||
Extended Range Artillery Rocket (EXTRA) | Long-range artillery rocket | Israel | 150 km range [20] | ||
LORA | Theater quasiballistic missile | Israel |
Name | Image | Type | Number in service [16] | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MIM-104 Patriot | Surface-to-air missile | N/A | United States | was upgraded to the GM+ "Yahalom" standard | |
Iron Dome | Air defense missile battery/Anti-rockets missile | 9+ | Israel | Intercepted hundreds of artillery records since declared operational in 2011. | |
David's Sling | Medium- to long-range anti-ballistic missile/surface-to-air missile | N/A | Israel | Medium- to long-range anti-ballistic missile with surface-to-air missile capability | |
Arrow | Anti-ballistic missile | N/A | Israel | Out of the atmosphere anti-ballistic missile missile series | |
Below are the IDF's active service watercraft. The year of service, speed, full load displacement, and crew members, are in parentheses.
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an American missile developed for anti-armor use, later developed for precision drone strikes against other target types, especially high-value targets. It was originally developed under the name "Heliborne laser, fire-and-forget missile", which led to the colloquial name "Hellfire" ultimately becoming the missile's formal name. It has a multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike ability and can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms, including the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100-pound (45 kg) class air-to-ground precision weapon for the armed forces of the United States and many other countries. It has also been fielded on surface platforms in the surface-to-surface and surface-to-air roles.
The Israel Defense Forces, alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym Tzahal (צה״ל), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister.
The Israeli Air Force operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. As of April 2022, Aluf Tomer Bar has been serving as the Air Force commander.
The P-15 Termit is an anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union's Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. Its GRAU designation was 4K40, its NATO reporting name was Styx or SS-N-2. China acquired the design in 1958 and created at least four versions: the CSS-N-1 Scrubbrush and CSS-N-2 versions were developed for ship-launched operation, while the CSS-C-2 Silkworm and CSS-C-3 Seersucker were used for coastal defence. Other names for this basic type of missile include: HY-1, SY-1, and FL-1 Flying Dragon, North Korean local produced KN-1 or KN-01, derived from both Silkworm variants and Russian & USSR P-15, Rubezh, P-20 P-22.
Israel Aerospace Industries, is Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both military and civilian usage. It has 14,000 employees as of 2021. IAI is state-owned by the government of Israel.
The Dolphin class is a diesel-electric submarine developed in Israel and constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, Germany, for the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 7 flotilla. The first boats of the class were based on the export-only German 209-class submarines, but modified and enlarged. The Dolphin 1 sub-class is slightly larger than the German Navy Type 212 in length and displacement. The three newer air-independent propulsion (AIP) equipped boats are similar to the Type 212 vessels in underwater endurance, but are 12 metres (39 ft) longer, nearly 500 tonnes heavier in submerged displacement and have a larger crew than either the Type 212 or the Type 214.
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.
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.
The 2K12 "Kub" mobile surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground forces from air attack. 2К12 is the GRAU designation of the system.
The NPO Almaz S-200 Angara/Vega/Dubna, NATO reporting name SA-5 Gammon, is a long-range, high-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Soviet Union in the 1960s to defend large areas from high-altitude bombers or other targets. In Soviet service, these systems were deployed primarily on the battalion level, with six launchers and a fire control radar.
A missile boat or missile cutter is a small, fast warship armed with anti-ship missiles. Being smaller than other warships such as destroyers and frigates, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming a navy at lower cost. They are similar in concept to the torpedo boats of World War II; in fact, the first missile boats were modified torpedo boats with the torpedo tubes replaced by missile tubes.
The F124 Sachsen class is the German Navy's latest class of air-defense frigates. The design of the Sachsen-class frigate is based on that of the F123 Brandenburg class but with enhanced stealth features designed to deceive an opponent's radar and acoustic sensors. The class incorporates an advanced multifunction radar APAR and a SMART-L long-range radar which is purported to be capable of detecting stealth aircraft and stealth missiles.
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.
The Super Dvora Mark III-class patrol boat is the latest generation of the Dvora family of fast patrol boats or fast attack craft (FPB/FAC). Manufactured by IAI Ramta in 2004 these vessels are capable of travelling up to 50 knots in littoral waters thanks to its state of the art thrust vectoring control Articulated Surface Drives (ASD) while holding various armaments, from automatic grenade launchers, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, SPIKE NLOS missiles, and 30 mm cannons in its armory.
The Cherbourg Project was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French port of Cherbourg. The boats had been paid for by the Israeli government but had not been delivered due to the French arms embargo in 1969. The whole operation was planned by the Israeli Navy, and was codenamed Operation Noa, after the daughter of Captain Binyamin "Bini" Telem.
The History of the Israel Air Force begins in May 1948, shortly after the formation of the State of Israel. Following Israel's declaration of independence on May 14, its pre-state national institutions transformed into the agencies of a state, and on May 26, 1948, the Israeli Air Force was formed. Beginning with a small collection of light aircraft, the force soon transformed into a comprehensive fighting force. It has since participated in several wars and numerous engagements, becoming what has been described as "The mightiest air force in the Middle East".
Barak 8, also known as LR-SAM or MR-SAM, is an Indo-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.
The defense industry of Israel is a strategically important sector and a large employer, as well as a major supplier of the Israel Defense Forces. The country is one of the world's major exporters of military equipment, accounting for 10% of the world total in 2007. Three Israeli companies were listed on the 2022 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute index of the world's top 100 arms-producing and military service companies: Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and RAFAEL. It is also a major player in the global arms market with a 2.3% share of the global exports of major arms as of 2023. Total arms transfer agreements topped $12.9 billion between 2004 and 2011. There are over 150 active defense companies based in the country with combined revenues of more than $3.5 billion annually. Israeli defense equipment exports reached $7 billion in 2012, making it a 20 percent increase from the amount of defense-related exports in 2011. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, arms exports reached $12.5 billion in 2022. Much of the exports are sold to the United States and Europe. Other major regions that purchase Israeli defense equipment include Southeast Asia and Latin America. India is also major country for Israeli arms exports and has remained Israel's largest arms market in the world.
The Sa'ar 2 class ("Shalechet") is a class of missile boats built in Cherbourg, France at the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie shipyard based on Israeli Navy modification of the German Navy's Jaguar-class fast attack craft. Three of the ships class were converted from Sa'ar 1-class patrol boats in 1974.
The Missile Ship Fleet, or as it's 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 Israeli Navy operating Surface vessels
Its sensitivities were galvanized by the capture of large quantities of Soviet CW-related equipment during both the 1967 Arab-Israeli and the 1973 Yom Kippur wars.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) September 20, 2010.