Press Release by Israel’s Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense, the Israeli Navy, and Israel Shipyards marked on February 18, 2025 the beginning of the production process for the Reshef-class ships (corvettes) in a traditional “steel cutting” ceremony, signaling the start of the manufacturing of five advanced warships. The event was attended by Acting Director General of the Ministry of Defense Itamar Graf, Commander of the Israeli Navy Vice Admiral David Saar Salama, Deputy Director General and Head of the Defense Procurement Directorate (DOPP) Ze’ev Landau, Head of the Finance Division at the Ministry of Defense CPA Dekel Cohen, owners of Israel Shipyards Industries Shlomi Fogel, Assi Shmeltzer, and Sami Katzav, CEO of Israel Shipyards Eitan Zucker, and other senior officials.
As part of the deal, led by the outgoing Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir, Israel Shipyards will provide the Navy with five advanced “Reshef”-class ships at a cost of approximately NIS 2.8B ($780M). The new ships are expected to replace the old “Saar” (Sa’ar 4.5 or else Nirit Class) vessels, which will be retired after nearly four decades of service.
The Reshef is a multi-mission vessel developed in collaboration with the Navy and the Ministry of Defense. It integrates cutting-edge weapon systems and advanced technologies from Israel’s defense industry. The first Reshef-class ship is expected to be delivered to the IDF in about three and a half (3.5) years.
This project constitutes a significant milestone in strengthening Israel’s defense production independence, aligning with the Ministry of Defense’s policy to expand local defense industries and promote “Blue and White” (Made in Israel) projects. The manufacturing of the ships at Israel Shipyards, after decades of purchasing such vessels abroad, ensures the preservation of strategic production knowledge and capabilities in the maritime domain. It also reinforces defense production continuity and is expected to provide jobs for hundreds of workers, most of them in northern Israel.
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Reshef-Class Corvettes: A Milestone in Israeli Naval Innovation
After more than 20 years, the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the IDF are resuming domestic production of combat ships, in line with the Ministry’s strategy to enhance production independence—a policy Israel is advancing across several critical fields of national security. The launch of the Reshef-class corvette construction marks a historic milestone, not only for the Israeli Navy, which will replace its aging and extensively modified Sa’ar 4.5-class FACMs after four decades, but also for Israel’s defense industry. For the first time in decades, warships of this size and sophistication are being built entirely within Israel, embodying the “Made in Israel” ethos and heralding a new era for the country’s naval and defense capabilities.
This initiative strengthens Israel’s maritime power and secures its sole strategic production line for warships, while also creating jobs, fostering local innovation, and positioning Israel as a prominent player in the global naval market. By attracting international customers and enabling foreign navies to acquire advanced Israeli-made warships, the project further cements Israel’s role as a leader in cutting-edge naval technology.
The Reshef-class corvettes, based on an extended version of Israel Shipyard’s Sa’ar-72 design, will be significantly larger than their predecessors, with double the displacement of the Sa’ar 4.5s and an additional length of approximately 15 meters. These advanced vessels will feature enhanced stealth capabilities to reduce radar cross-section, upgraded air defense systems, and cutting-edge multi-domain warfare technologies. Designed to counter evolving threats, the Reshef-class will be equipped with a sophisticated arsenal of advanced weaponry and state-of-the-art electronic systems empowering Israel to effectively address a wide range of modern challenges. For a deeper dive into the general configuration, armament, and electronic systems of the next-generation Reshef-class corvettes, check out the article: Israel Launches Reshef-Class Corvette Program.
