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The Sa'ar 6-class corvette are all-modern surface combatants of the Israeli Navy. All four planned vessels in the series have been completed with two having reached commissioned, active service (2022). The types, developed jointly with Germany (constructed in German waters by German Naval Yards Holdings and ThyssenKrupp), are relatively compact designs intended for Close-to-Shore (CtS) operations, particularly along the Israeli coast an are designed as true successors to the aging Sa'ar 5-class ships (three of which remain active to date).

The four ships-in-class are INS Magen ("Shield/Defender"), INS Oz (Courage), INS Atzmaut ("Independence"), and INS Nitzachon ("Victory"). Magen was launched on May 23rd, 2019 and delivered to the Israeli Navy in 2020. Oz followed on August 24th, 2019 with delivery had in 2021. Atzamut and Nitzachon were both launched in 2019 and delivered in 2021. All are influenced by the German Braunschwig-class corvette design with modifications applied to suit the Israeli need.

The Sa'ar 6-class ships displace 1,900 tons under full load and feature a length of 295.2 feet, a beam of 32.6 feet, and a draught down to 11.1 feet. Range is out to 4,000 nautical miles. The shallow draught allows the vessels to operate close to shorelines where weapons and other solutions can be used to support on-land/in-shore forces.

Aboard is the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR series Active, Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) system, a solid-state multi-function naval radar operating on an S-Band frequency - suitable for use against high-altitude aircraft and inbound, sea-skimming missiles. The Electronic Warfare (EW) suite is of local design by Israeli defense powerhouse Elbit Systems.

If using the original German design as a basis, the Israeli vessels feature an operating crew of about 65. Installed power is 2 x MTU 20V 1163 TB93 series marine diesels driving 2 x Shafts astern. This allows the warship to reach straight-line, ocean-going speeds of 26 knots in ideal conditions and can range out to 4,000 nautical miles. Onboard stores allow the ship to remain on station between seven and twenty-one days.

Installed weaponry includes 1 x 76mm OTO-Melara turreted deck gun, 2 x Rafael "Typhoon" Remote Weapon Stations (RWSs), 1 x 40-cell missile launcher ("C-Dome" Point-Defense System) in vertical launching arrangement (VLS), 1 x 32-cell Barak-8 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAMs) VLS, 16 x "Gabriel V" series anti-ship missiles, and 2 x 324mm (13") torpedo tubes. The combination of ballistic and missile weapons provides the warship with a broad set of solutions to deal with an equally broad set of in-the-field threats - from aircraft and drones to suicide watercraft and enemy submersibles.

Over the stern is a helipad capable of operating a single Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk navy helicopter. These can be equipped for a variety of over-water / at-sea roles including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Search and Rescue (SAR), Over-the-Horizon (OtH) work, and at-sea resupply. The German form of this ship can support a pair of rotary-wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) which implies the Israeli models can as well.

Externally, the vessels showcase all-modern lines and a conventional arrangement: The forecastle is largely unobstructed leading to a stepped bridge section overlooking the bow. Integrated to the bridge section is the main mast and its slew of sensors and processing systems. The hull is unbroken from bow to stern with a gap noted at midships. The rear of the ship contains the helicopter hangar support facilities as well as the helipad. A secondary mast is fitted atop this section.

As of January 2022, Magen and Oz are under active status. Atzmaut and Mitzachon are undergoing sea trials and fitting out with appropriate hardware and systems. Both radar and weapon systems are applied by Israeli industry post-delivery from Germany.©MilitaryFactory.com

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