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| Sa'ar Class 5 Corvette |
JUDAH ARI GROSS
The Israeli Navy on Sunday announced the names of its four new Sa’ar 6-class corvettes, the first of which is due to be delivered by the end of 2019.
The ships will be named “Magen,” meaning shield; “Oz,” meaning valor; “Atzmaut,” meaning independence; and “Nitzahon,” meaning victory.
The first corvette is scheduled to arrive in late 2019. The other three will be delivered by the beginning of 2021.
The ships are far larger and more powerful than the Sa’ar 5-class warships — currently Israel’s biggest — and are specifically meant to protect the country’s gas field and shipping lanes.
“The arrival of the ships will significantly change the face of the Navy,” said the head of the Israeli Navy Maj. Gen. Eli Sharvit.
“The navy will operate vessels with new capabilities that we do not currently possess,” he said.
