Rafael press release
The ‘C-Dome’ was operated for the first time aboard the Israeli Naval Ship (INS) Sa’ar 6 ‘Magen’ corvette against multiple advanced threats. Crew members of the INS ‘Magen’ led the ‘C-Dome’ tests.
The test campaign consisted of a number of scenarios simulating advanced threats, including rockets, cruise missiles and UAVs. The ‘C-Dome’ is capable of successfully intercepting such threats. This successful live-fire test is an important milestone and demonstrates the operational capability of the Israeli Navy to defend the strategic assets and vital interests of the State of Israel against current and evolving threats.
“Rafael is proud to announce the completion of a successful series of tests of the naval configuration of the Iron Dome. This test marks the end of a process to develop and adapt the Iron Dome to naval platforms, according to the requirements outlined by the DDR&D and the IDF. The tests demonstrated Rafael’s advanced engineering and development capabilities, as well as the capability to successfully integrate complex systems.”
Head of Rafael’s Naval Warfare Systems Directorate, Ran Tavor
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About C-Dome
C-Dome™ enables hemispheric protection against saturation attacks from multiple directions simultaneously. The system integrates into the ship’s own radar and CMS and utilizes the combat-proven IRON DOME’s TAMIR, the interceptor that has achieved more than 2,000 successful interceptions.
C-Dome comprises three components: TAMIR interceptors, a modular Vertical-Launch Unit (VLU), and a Command & Control (C2) component. Utilizing the vessel’s surveillance radar to detect and track threats, it eliminates the need for a dedicated radar.
About the Sa’ar 6-class
The 1,900 tons, 90 meters-long 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 other three ships will follow subsequently in intervals of a few months.
In terms of weapon systems, the Sa’ar 6 will be heavily armed given their small size and displacement:
- an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun,
- two Typhoon 25mm Weapon Stations,
- 32 vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles,
- two C-Dome point defense systems (with 20 Tamir missiles each),
- 16 anti-ship missiles (likely Gabriel V)
- two 324 mm torpedo launchers .
Each ship will also be outfitted with cyber and electronic warfare systems. The sensor suite includes the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar. Magen-class corvettes have hangar space and a platform able to accommodate a medium class SH-60-type helicopter.
