The formal announcement of the replacement of the Israeli Navy’s ageing Sa’ar 4.5 Nirit-class missile boats with Reshef-class corvettes confirms a significant capability upgrade for the service, with five of the new warships to be delivered in a $780m deal with Israel Shipyards.
Announcing the deal on 11 December, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (IMOD) said the deal included the option for additional Reshef-class corvettes in the future. The move finally confirmed the upcoming end of the Sa’ar 4 missile boats, which will be gradually decommissioned after four decades in service.
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The approval was previously mooted by IMOD in a November statement to social media, as part of a wider procurement programme.
“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,” said Director General of the IMOD, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir.
Other nations are expected to follow the Israeli Navy’s example by seeking to acquire these Israeli-made combat vessels, which will boost defense exports,” Zamir added.
The IMOD said the Reshef class, described as “multi-mission vessels”, would feature “advanced weapon systems” from Israel’s defence industry, and integrates “technologies” that would provide “naval superiority” for the Israeli Navy.
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By GlobalDataOut with the old: Reshef in profile
According to GlobalData’s 2023 inventory of the Israeli Navy, the service maintains a sizeable corvette and missile/fast attack boats force, well-suited to operations in the littorals of the Mediterranean Sea.
Included are seven Sa’ar 4.5 corvettes/missile boats commissioned into service from 1981-2003, two Sa’ar 5 corvettes (introduced between 1993-1994), and four new Sa’ar 6 corvettes delivered between 2022-2021.
The Reshef design is based on Israel Shipyards’ Sa’ar S-72 platform, stretched by several metres and with an increased displacement. By most metrics, the Reshef will be a significant improvement over the Sa’ar 4.5 vessels.
Comparison: New vs Old
Analysis of newly released imagery released by the IMOD of the Reshef design indicates a 76mm main gun, eight anti-ship missiles amidships, as well as a 32-cell vertical launch system network for anti-air missiles located forward of the bridge.
In addition, point defence systems appear to be fitted, one located on top of the bridge and the other aft of the superstructure.
A rear deck space does not permit helicopter landing or embarkation but does allow for the storage of two TEU containers, potentially for uncrewed systems.
However, older imagery also shows the OPV variant Reshef without the eight anti-ship missile canisters, and also features a clear helicopter landing zone at the stern, among other differences.
