INS Magen: Stealth Corvettes, Gender Equality And Modernization Of Israel's Combat Tactics

An illustration of the Israeli missile corvette INS Magen. (Wikimedia Commons/IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

JAKARTA - This type of corvette warship with missiles, which belongs to the Israeli Navy's Sa'ar 6 class, is the most sophisticated and will become the backbone of the Israeli military (IDF) at sea.

Officially handed over in December last year at the Port of Haifa, INS Magen, as the name of this ship, will only officially operate, entering the ranks of Israel's marine arsenal next year because it is still in the process of building and completing the details of this selected warship.

"This is making history. The whole ship is new, in every way. Even some of the technology is completely new to the navy," Lt. Col. Omer Karmi told The Jerusalem Post as quoted Wednesday, July 28.

Measuring about 90 meters long and weighing 2,000 tons, this ship is one of four Sa'ar 6 corvettes that will form the backbone of the Israeli Navy for decades to come. The new ships mark a transition in the naval combat doctrine directed at threats. the ever-changing region facing the Jewish State and will play a greater role in detecting and destroying enemy targets and threats.

The Israeli Navy is tasked with defending economic waters that are twice the size of Israel's landmass. Projects to build warships that would protect vital installations far from the coast began in 2013.

"Sa'ar 6, was built to protect strategic assets and protect gas installations," said Karmi.

Military illustration handing over INS Magen.(Wikimedia Commons/IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The ship from German Naval Yards, Germany and ThyssenKrup features an advanced air defense system (Navy Iron Dome Rafael and Barak 8) from Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as an Israel Aerospace Industries MF-STAR (Magen Adir) radar that provides 360-degree hemispherical coverage at around the ship, while at the same time detecting threats such as long-range ballistic missiles.

The radar system reduces target acquisition response times and provides advanced capabilities to accurately and simultaneously track multiple targets. Once a threat is detected, using artificial intelligence, the ship's battle management system will be able to assign the appropriate interceptors to destroy the threat.

"While Sa'ar 5 was built to protect itself, Sa'ar 6 was built to protect others. It is my responsibility, on this ship, to be able to detect and destroy any threats and do so appropriately," explained Karmi of the ship that was on board. under his command.

All weapons systems, including advanced electronic warfare capabilities, were installed on the new ship while in Haifa port. The naval Iron Dome has not been installed as has the OTO Melara 76 mm super-fast rifle.

"This room is empty, completely empty and we built it from scratch," Karmi said, adding that the Navy ordered it to be equipped itself as needed.

Illustration of the atmosphere inside INS Magen (Source: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The vessel, which has a maximum speed of 24 knots with a range of 2,500 nautical miles, will have a crew of 70 sailors who will be assisted by unmanned aerial vehicles and naval helicopters.

And for the first time, the number of female crew members on warships will reach 25 percent. Yes, the INS and ships belonging to the Sa'ar 6 class are said to be built specifically to support gender equality, accommodate female seafarers, with separate bathrooms and beds for female crew.

One of the female sailors who will be joining the ship is Captain Shira Kleager, an electronics and defense officer for INS Magen, who started her naval career in Sa'ar 5.

Although no longer than Sa'ar 5, his older brother, Sa'ar 6 has been built to handle the rough seas better, being able to last longer at sea, allowing them to take part in campaigns against Hezbollah and Iran threats.

The Sa'ar 6 class ships are an integral part of the IDF's new multi-dimensional warfare strategy, which is an important part of the military's multi-year Momentum plan to defeat the enemy quickly and efficiently.

Illustration of Captain Shira Kleager in INS Magen (Source: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

According to the plan, all branches of the military will be interconnected and work together directly to increase the number of enemy targets that can be destroyed and assist ground troops on the front lines.

If war breaks out, the Sa'ar 6 ships will be deployed to protect Israel's Exclusive Economic Zone and gas rigs, while the rest of the fleet will assist ground forces by bombarding enemy targets.

With the ship's connection to ground-based air defense systems along with their advanced radar and interception capabilities, the Sa'ar 6 will be a central part of sharing combat data with other branches of the military during war scenarios.

In addition to the interception missile defense system and cyber-electronic warfare system, the ships will have 16 anti-ship missiles, one 76mm missile. Main rifle OTO Melara Super Rapid, two 25 mm Typhoons. long-range weapons station, and two torpedo launchers for the MK54 324 mm Light Torpedo.

And, designed specifically to Israeli specifications, the Sa'ar 6 has a low radar cross section design, making it nearly invisible to enemy radar systems, as are warships with the 'stealth' ability to disappear from radar capture.

In total, the IDF navy will have four ships in this class. Two of them, INS Magen and INS Oz have arrived in Israel and are currently under development. The last two ships, the INS Atzmaut and INS Nitzachon, were officially handed over to the Israeli Navy in Kiel, Germany this Tuesday in a ceremony attended by the commander of the Israeli Navy, Admiral V. Eli Sharvit.