German shipbuilder thyssenkrupp Marine Systems officially handed over the lead SA’AR 6 corvette INS Magen to the Israeli Navy in a ceremony at its Kiel shipyard on November 11.
After changing ownership, Magen will set sail for Israel, where it is expected to arrive in December. The ship’s delivery was delayed by several months due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shipbuilder notes that INS Magen entered the water 15 months after the first steel was cut. One of the reasons behind the construction pace is the fact that Israel’s SA’AR 6 ships share major design features with the German K130 corvettes, five of which have already been built with another five under construction.
SA’AR 6 ships incorporate stealth design features for a low-signature missile corvette. They measure 90 meters in length and displace some 1,900 tons at full displacement. They will carry an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun, vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, and anti-ship missiles. They will also have torpedo launchers and a helipad and hangaring space for an embarked helicopter.
As highlighted by the Israeli Defense Force, the SA’AR 6-class will be the country’s most advanced ship yet, and will be in charge of protecting the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone and gas platforms in the Mediterranean Sea.
