Israel buys five Reshef missile ships to bolster its arsenal
An artist’s impression of the new Reshef vessel. (Image: Israel Shipyards)
The five Reshef corvettes are expected to patrol Israel’s Exclusive Economic Zone and critical infrastructure.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has signed off on the purchase of five Reshef-class missile ships from Israel Shipyards, at a cost of approximately US$780M.
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir, director general of the Israeli MoD, approved the procurement agreement on 12 December, but the Reshef class has been on the MoD’s radar for some time, as a replacement to the Sa’ar 4 and Sa’ar 4.5-class of fast-attack vessels.
Under the agreement, Israel Shipyards will produce and supply the ships to the Israeli Navy over the next six years, with an option left open for the Navy to procure additional vessels as needed in the future.
Related Articles
Israel Shipyards to design new Reshef class
Reshef steps closer to production
The Reshef-class multi-mission vessel was developed in collaboration with the Israeli Navy, incorporating the most advanced weapon systems from across Israel's naval defence industry.
Once the Reshef-class is in place, the Sa’ar 4.5-class missile ship will be decommissioned, after having been in service for four decades.
The vessels will be built within Israel, and Zamir described the Reshef acquisition as “an integration of security, economic, and industrial priorities”.
He added: “These new vessels will strengthen the Israeli Navy’s expanding maritime capabilities. Manufacturing them locally in Israel will maintain and grow the nation’s exclusive strategic production line for combat vessels and enhance operational independence and continuity while securing hundreds of jobs in Israel.”
Zamir said he also expected that other nations would look to follow the Israeli Navy's example and acquire Reshef-class vessels of their own, making the class a viable Israeli export.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Can retrofitted autonomy support cash-strapped navies?]()
Can retrofitted autonomy support cash-strapped navies?
Autonomous vessels can reduce risk to the lives of naval personnel, but could retrofitting be a faster, cheaper option?
-
![Spanish F-110 frigate’s new SPY-7 radar achieves successful track, keeping launch on schedule]()
Spanish F-110 frigate’s new SPY-7 radar achieves successful track, keeping launch on schedule
The SPY-7 radar will undergo testing and calibration down to its component level before it is handed over to the Spanish Navy.
-
![India commissions three new vessels]()
India commissions three new vessels
The new vessels, Nilgiri, Surat and Vagsheer, will be deployed to protect vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean.
