The new Israeli-built Sa’ar 6 series of light corvettes will be equipped with many advanced weapons, including the Barak 8 and C-Dome combined air defense systems.
The Sa’ar 6 class corvette of the Israeli Navy was built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems based on the German MEKO 100 light corvette and patrol boat . It has enhanced attack capabilities compared to the Sa’ar 5 class. The hull is designed to reduce the cross-section to prevent radar reflections as well as to reduce infrared emission from the ship.
Model of Israel’s new Sa’ar 6 class corvette. Photo: Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
Sa’ar 6 corvette has a length of 90m, a width of 13.2m, a height of 21.5m and a displacement of approximately 2,000 tons with a maximum crew of 70 people. The integrated bridge system is located at the bow of the ship. The hangar and helipad at the stern can accommodate medium-sized multirole maritime helicopters such as the SH-60 Seahawk.
With a dual diesel engine system, the Sa’ar 6 class corvette can operate for a long time with a range of up to 2,500 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 26 knots.
The Israeli frigate Sa’ar 6 will be assigned to the force protecting the country’s natural gas fields.
The new series of Sa’ar 6 class corvettes will be equipped with a variety of weapons, from machine guns to surface-to-air and ship-to-ship missiles. The bow of the ship is equipped with a 76mm Oto Melara rapid-fire machine gun against air and sea targets. The ship is also equipped with 16 anti-ship missiles such as Gabriel, RGM-84 Harpoon and RBS-15 Mk3. In addition, the ship’s weapons system also includes two torpedo tubes compatible with MK54 Lightweight torpedoes and two 30mm Rafael Typhoon remote-controlled gun emplacements.
In particular, the new Sa’ar 6 class corvette is also equipped with modern Barak 8 anti-aircraft missile system capable of intercepting and destroying all air targets such as anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, and anti-ship missiles. programs, fighters, helicopters and drones.
In addition, the ship can also install 2 modern C-Dome air defense systems, with the famous Iron Dome naval version. This system, located at the bow of the ship, is designed to shoot down short-range missiles and shells.
The Barak 8 missile defense system – a long-range surface-to-air missile – is a naval air defense system, consisting of a command, control, command, communication and information (BMC4I) center, a system Vertical launch system containing Barak 8 interceptor missiles and a multi-function radar capable of reconnaissance, tracking and guidance. The system can use Barak 8 or Barak 8ER interceptors capable of intercepting air threats with 360-degree coverage.
Testing Barak 8 version for the navy.
Currently, the Barak 8 system has three versions: Barak 8 AMD/LRSAM – version of the original long-range air defense missile system designed for the Israeli Navy and for export; Mid-range MRSAM, the ground version of the Barak 8 AMD system. This version includes a control system, radar tracking and mobile launcher systems; and Barak MX – a modular version of the Barak air defense missile system, capable of flexibly changing modules to meet the needs of both sea and land use.
Barak 8 is a ship-mounted and ship-launched missile based on a proven vertical launch system. With a small installation space, the missile launchers of the Barak 8 system can be easily fitted to new warships as well as ships currently in service with the Israeli Navy.
Specifically, the Barak 8 system includes a vertically launched missile, a two-stage rocket engine, an automatic target search radar and a two-way data link system. Barak 8 can counter-attack multiple targets even in the event of a barrage of attacks due to its powerful warheads, simultaneous tracking of multiple targets, and effective detonation mechanism.
The missile of the Barak 8 system has a length of about 4.5m, a diameter of 0.54m, a wingspan of 0.94m, a maximum speed of twice the speed of sound and an effective range of 70km. The Barak 8 missile has demonstrated outstanding interception capabilities in many field situations in large-scale encirclement counterattacks. In addition, the missile can also be equipped with an auxiliary propulsion to increase the range and an independent data link system to support tracking multiple targets at the same time and optimize defense capabilities in one. wide area.
The C-Dome (C-Dome) close-in defense system was designed by Rafael to protect warships from the threats of modern warfare. The C-Dome system defends against barrages of attacks by counter-attacking multiple targets in quick succession with a choice of automatic or semi-automatic attack.
Model of the C-Dome system on a warship. (Photo: Rafael).
Components of the C-Dome include a launch tube mounting system mounted under the hull, capable of firing a series of interceptor missiles vertically. The C-Dome uses the ship’s reconnaissance radar system without the need for a separate fire control radar. The weapon control and control system is seamlessly integrated into the ship’s combat management system. The C-Dome system using Iron Dome interceptors has been tested in combat with more than 1,200 successful intercepts. The system can detect missiles fired from a distance of 4 to 70km and launch Tamir interceptors to destroy targets while they are still in the air.
Tamir is a short-range anti-missile kinetic energy interceptor missile, with a length of 3m, a diameter of 0.16m, a weight of 90km with a range of 2 to 40km. These interceptors do not need to be stored, but are housed in a seawater-resistant container. Each vertical launch tube module can hold 10 interceptor missiles.
The missile is launched vertically with a 360 degree coverage; This feature is not available on the Iron Dome missile system. Modern warheads ensure effective destruction of various targets. Missiles of the C-Dome system are very flexible and the ability to change the angle of flight quickly allows intercepting the most maneuverable targets. Its state-of-the-art near-target detonator increases damage, and its high-powered warhead allows for increased target destruction. The C-Dome system has a small cross-sectional area and can be installed on small warships, including offshore patrol boats and light corvettes.
In addition to modern anti-aircraft missile systems, the Sa’ar corvette is also equipped with an ELM-2248 MF-STAR radar system.