Israel Navy’s first SA’AR 6 corvette named INS Magen

On May 23, 2019, the first SA’AR-6 class corvette was named INS Magen at a ceremony in Kiel. This marks another important milestone in the ongoing program of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as General Contractor to build four next-generation missile corvettes for the Israeli Navy.

The ship was named by Mrs. Eti Sharvit, wife of Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit, Chief of the Israeli Navy, in presence of high-level representatives from the Israeli Government and Navy as well as high-ranking German Navy officials.

“We are very proud to be contributing to Israel’s security. The corvettes are the most advanced and most sizeable vessels that ever served in the Israeli Navy. With the final fitting out being conducted by Israeli industry, the ships will also largely contribute to the country’s economy.”

Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of TKMS

The ships have the stealthy design of a low-signature missile corvette with tailor-made solutions and numerous new technologies on board. The contract for the delivery of four SA’AR 6 corvettes was signed in May 2015. After the design phase, the construction phase started with the steel cutting ceremony of the first-of-class in February 2018. Only 15 months after the first steel cut, the ship was undocked, fulfilling its very ambitious schedule. The INS Magen is planned to be delivered in spring 2020 after completion of construction and testing. The other three ships will follow subsequently in intervals of a few months.

In terms of weapon systems, the SA’AR 6 is fitted with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun, two Typhoon Weapon Stations, 32 vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, the C-Dome point defense system, 16 anti-ship missiles (likely Gabriel V) and two 324 mm torpedo launchers . The sensor suite includes the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar. It has hangar space and a platform able to accommodate a medium class SH-60-type helicopter.

Key data for SA’AR 6 corvettes

Length o.a. approx. 90 m
Beam 13 m
Full load displacement approx. 1,900 t