Currently, one of the German shipyards is assembling the hull of the head corvette of the Sa'ar 6 type, ordered by the Israeli naval forces. In the foreseeable future, the building with some systems will be handed over to the customer for completion. The contract currently under way envisages the construction of four ships, the last of which will be in service with the fleet by the middle of the next decade. In the meantime, despite a certain atmosphere of secrecy, new information about the progress of the project becomes freely available.
The history of the Sa'ar 6 project (the spelling Saar 6 is also found) dates back to the middle of the last decade, when the Israeli command took up the issue of the next update of the surface fleet. To replace existing combat units, new ships with advanced missile weapons for various purposes were required. For several years, the possibility of acquiring ships from one or another foreign country has been considered. The proposals of Germany, South Korea, the USA, etc. were studied.
An early version of the Sa'ar 6 corvette. Figure FJB / bmpd.livejournal.com
In 2013, the command decided to acquire new ships from Germany, but the terms of the future contract were not immediately determined. Nevertheless, at the end of 2014, an Israeli-German memorandum of understanding appeared, and about a year later - a firm contract for four promising corvettes. As part of the negotiations before the conclusion of the contract, the main features of future cooperation were determined, as well as the cost of the ships and the principles of their payment.
According to an international agreement, new ships were to be developed within the framework of bilateral cooperation. Germany and Israel were represented in this program by several defense and shipbuilding enterprises. As the basis for the future "Saar-6" was taken the project of the ship Korvette 130 (aka Braunschweig-class) by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems - the last corvette of the MEKO family at the moment. Through joint revision, the existing project was brought in line with the wishes of the Israeli Navy.
According to the agreement, the construction of the ships is assigned to the Kieler Werft plant in Kiel. At the same time, the German company must manufacture hulls and equip them with some systems. Power plant, weapons, electronic equipment, etc. it is planned to be installed after the transfer of the finished body to the customer in the person of Israel. This feature of the contract has significantly reduced its cost. For the construction of four buildings, the German side receives a total of 1.8 billion shekels (430 million euros) - 450 million shekels or 107.5 million euros per building.
German ship F260 Braunschweig project MEKO Korvette 130. Photo Wikimedia Commons
An interesting feature of the new program is the distribution of payments under the contract. In accordance with the agreement, Israel takes over the bulk of financing for the construction of the buildings. At the same time, Germany is subsidizing the construction of 115 million euros. Similar approaches have already been used in the construction of submarines for the Israeli Navy.
Israel plans to independently produce and pay for weapons and equipment for the ships, and then install them in the hulls at its own expense. The full composition of the proposed products has not yet been announced, and in addition, the armament complex has changed several times in recent years. In this regard, the cost of the "Israeli" part of the project is still unknown. According to various estimates, the production and installation of all the necessary systems can cost 200-220 million euros for each ship. In addition, a new dry dock is being built to service promising corvettes - this work requires another 800-900 million euros.
In the spring of 2017, the Israeli press reported that there were some technical and organizational problems. Their consequence should have been an increase in the cost of ships and a shift in the timing of their construction. In particular, the total cost of the four ships was supposed to increase by about 150 million euros.
In 2015, after the signing of the contract, the development of the new Sa'ar 6 project started, and then preparations began for future construction. All this work took a little less than two years. The laying of the head corvette of the new type took place in early February 2018. It is curious that the groundbreaking ceremony was held behind closed doors, without wide publicity or invitation from the press. Nevertheless, the work started and continues to this day. According to the available data, Kieler Werft has gone far enough.
The newly built nose section of the Sa'ar 6-class lead corvette at the Kiel plant. Photo by N. Dvori / twitter.com/ndvori
In early October, Israeli war correspondent Nir Dvori published the first photographs of the new ship being built. It follows from them that by now the German shipbuilders have manufactured all the main sections of the future hull. In late September and early October, the bow section was docked with the rest of the units. Thus, the construction of the head building is moving forward and nearing completion.
According to the known data, the next few months will be spent on the continuation of the assembly of the hull and superstructure, as well as the installation of some systems provided for by the contract. At the end of next year, the finished body, incomplete, will be handed over to the customer. It is planned to be transported from Kiel to one of the Israeli shipyards, where construction will be completed. This work will take some time, but at the beginning of the next decade, the first Sa'ar 6 should go into operation.
The first serial ship of the new project, as far as we know, has not yet been laid down. However, it follows from the published plans that the last of the four ordered buildings will go to the customer in 2021. Using this experience, Israel is going to retrofit and test it in just a few months. Delivery of the finished fourth corvette is scheduled for 2021-22.
The bow section during transport to the assembly shop. Photo by N. Dvori / twitter.com/ndvori
However, such plans are characterized by excessive optimism, and the actual state of affairs may be different. More realistic forecasts are being made, according to which the construction of the entire series will not be completed within the specified time frame. It is quite possible that due to the complexity of the work, as well as due to the adjustment of some plans, only the lead ship will be completed by 2022. The next three buildings will take several more years, with the result that the series will be delivered to the customer only by the mid-twenties.
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The new German-Israeli guided missile corvette project is based on the existing MEKO Korvette 130, but has the most significant differences. First of all, the customer decided to significantly strengthen the airborne armament complex. As a result, the corvette in terms of firepower and ammunition can compete with ships of other classes. At the same time, the new ships will not differ in their large size or displacement.
The Saar-6 project provides for the construction of a ship 90 m long and a maximum width of just over 13 m. The normal draft is 3-3.5 m. The total displacement of the ship is set at 2 thousand tons. for Israel slightly exceeds the base Korvette 130. In addition, the ships of the two types are similar in appearance to each other. In both cases, a large elongation hull with a pointed stem and a bulb in the bow is used. The central part of the hull carries a superstructure of variable height, on the nose of which there is a bridge. The superstructure is equipped with two masts with antenna and other equipment of various types.
The process of docking the central and stern sections. Photo by N. Dvori / twitter.com/ndvori
According to reports, the corvettes will receive a CODAD power plant based on MTU diesel engines. Engine power will be provided by two propeller shafts. The estimated maximum speed of the ship is 27 knots. The cruising range at an economic speed is 2500 nautical miles.
A characteristic feature of the Sa'ar 6 project is the use of a large number of detection and surveillance equipment of different classes and types. Apparently, the customer wants to ensure the ability to control the surface and air situation within a radius of several hundred kilometers. In addition, a well-developed complex of radar and other means is necessary for the effective use of the numerous weapons envisaged by the project.
On two masts of the corvette, antennas of several radars for different purposes will be located. Observation, navigation and other stations of different models should be used. In particular, according to some reports, a separate locator is intended to ensure the operation of a deck helicopter. The project also provides for the use of several optical location stations with day and night cameras, including a long-range view system. Naturally, there will be various countermeasures on board. The ships will receive jammers and launchers for decoys.
Installation of the bow section. Photo by N. Dvori / twitter.com/ndvori
Over the past years, Israeli sources have published various data on the alleged armament of the new corvettes. At the same time, the composition of the weapon was changed several times in one way or another. At the end of September, a new exhibition dedicated to the development of the armed forces was held in Israel. During this event, the command of the Navy officially demonstrated the new model of the Sa'ar 6 corvette. Judging by the composition of the "equipment" of this model, the customer revised the requirements for the ship and changed the composition of the missile armament. However, we are talking only about changing the ammunition load of various missile systems and about other proportions of missiles in the total ammunition. No systems are replaced with new ones.
According to current plans, a Leonardo Super Rapid 76/62 artillery mount with a 76 mm cannon should be placed on the ship's tank. Behind this installation, directly in front of the superstructure, are two Raphael Typhoon RW combat modules with 25 mm cannons. If necessary, these products can be supplemented with machine guns of normal caliber. A small superstructure with vertical launchers is provided between the anti-aircraft guns. There, presumably, Tamir interceptor missiles of the C-Dome complex (the ship's version of the Kipat Barzel missile defense system) will be transported. The installation capacity is 40 missiles.
On the central part of the superstructure, it is proposed to place four (two on each side) quad launchers for Harpoon missiles. It is also possible to use Israeli-made Gabriel Mk 5 missiles. In the rear of the superstructure, which is characterized by an increased height, there are two vertical launchers of the Barak medium and long-range anti-aircraft missile system. Each of them carries eight missiles. Under them, in the side gate ports, there are two built-in torpedo tubes of 324 mm caliber.
A mock-up of the Sa'ar 6 corvette with modified armament, presented at a recent exhibition. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The aft deck is given for a take-off pad for a helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle. A hangar of the required size is located in the superstructure in front of it. The ship will be able to carry one SH-60 type helicopter or a pair of helicopter-type UAVs.
Thus, the finished corvette of the Sa'ar 6 type is able to monitor the air, surface and underwater conditions and, if necessary, take the necessary measures. The on-board armament system provides for the fight against various air targets with the organization of echeloned defense by means of two air defense systems and a number of artillery systems. For strikes against surface targets, there are several barrel systems and the Harpoon missile system. Submarines are invited to hit with torpedoes.
As already noted, a characteristic feature of promising corvettes for Israel is a more than developed armament complex. In terms of similar parameters, the Saar-6 surpasses many other modern corvettes in its size and displacement, competing with larger ships. Ships with the proposed missile, artillery and torpedo armament are expected to have a positive impact on the potential of the Israeli fleet.
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Quite a long time ago, the Israeli naval forces came to the conclusion that it was necessary to modernize and strengthen the surface grouping at the expense of promising corvettes. It took several years to find suitable ships, negotiate with potential contractors and determine the terms of the contract. In 2015, these processes ended with the successful signing of the contract, and a few months ago, the laying of the lead ship of the new series took place.
Layout of equipment and weapons. Photo Oleggranovsky.livejournal.com
In the proposed form, the project of the corvette with guided missile weapons Sa'ar 6 is of certain interest. It should be noted, however, that he looks very bold. On a relatively small sea platform, it is proposed to place a significant amount of various equipment and weapons of different classes with a large ammunition load. This appearance of the ship is determined by a specific technical task, the implementation of which should be associated with certain problems.
Last spring's news and subsequent reports indicate that the corvette's developers have not yet escaped the expected problems. It became known last spring that difficulties in solving the main tasks of the project led to a significant increase in the cost of the program, as well as to a shift in the timing of work. So far, it cannot be ruled out that this situation will not happen again in the future, and the project executors will not have to revise the estimate or work schedule again.
According to current plans, in about a year, the German companies Kieler Werft and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems will be able to transfer the hull of the head corvette of the Sa'ar 6 project with a limited number of onboard systems and assemblies to Israeli shipbuilders. It will take some time to complete the construction and equip the ship with subsequent tests. After that, at the beginning of the next decade, the corvette will enter the combat composition of the Israeli Navy. Then three other ships will follow. Time will tell whether the project participants will be able to complete all the necessary work on time and meet the specified budget. The events of recent years allow us to assume different scenarios for the development of events.
