INS ounce will join INS Magen which arrived in December, and together they will keep Israel’s offshore gas production facilities and territorial waters.

The arrival of the ship is “an important step in strengthening Israel’s power, including in the exclusive economic zone,” the IDF said. “The ship will be a key part of Israel‘s defense of its territorial waters and offshore energy resources. “

At the ceremony in Haifa, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the new ship was a “representation of the power that we are prepared to use on all fronts, including in Lebanon and beyond, to prevent attempts of our enemies to equip themselves with weapons that would undermine regional stability.

Also in attendance was Navy Commander Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit, who said the ship’s commanders and fighters had taken part in “another milestone” in the construction of Israel’s maritime defense wall.

“The ships joining the ranks of the navy are as imperative as the air is to breathe, as the security picture is constantly changing and new threats arise,” he said. “There is no doubt that the INS ounce, like its sister ships, is a technological marvel, but just as it is a sign of progress, it is also a sign of extensive cooperation and cross-border human power.

The 90-meter, 2,000-ton corvettes have a top speed of 24 knots and a range of 2,500 nautical miles. While not much longer than the Sa’ar 5 class, they were built to handle rough seas better and stay out of port longer.

The new class will be covered by nearly 300 static radar arrays capable of detecting incoming air threats. Incoming rockets can be shot down by two Iron Dome naval interceptors, and two Barak-8 batteries can shoot down hostile cruise and ballistic missiles.

In addition to the interceptor missile defense systems, the ships will also carry 16 anti-ship missiles, a super fast 76mm Oto Melara main gun, two 25mm Typhoon ranged weapon stations and two 324mm torpedo launchers for the MK54 light torpedoes.

Each Sa’ar 6 ship will also be equipped with cyber and electronic warfare systems and Elta’s EL / M-2248 MF-STAR (AESA) radar, capable of tracking air and surface targets.

Most of these weapons and radar systems must be installed in Israel.

Should war break out, at least two Saar 6 ships would be deployed to protect Israel’s Exclusive Economic Zone and its gas platforms, while the rest of the fleet would aid the ground forces by attacking enemy troops and threats that might target both the home front and gas assets, while simultaneously destroying any air threat launched against maritime assets and warships.