Sons of Sa’ar? Israel’s Next Generation Frigates

Sons of Saar? Israels Next Generation Frigates

08-Jul-2009 19:37 EDT

Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, IT - Software & Integration, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, R&D - Contracted, RFPs, Radars, Spotlight articles, Surface Ships - Combat, Testing & Evaluation
Syracuse Research Corp. - Click Here!
Advertisement
Saar 5 Eilat Class
Saar 5 Eilat Class
(click to view larger)

The 1,227t/ 1,350 ton Saar 5 Eilat Class corvettes were built by Northrop Grumman in the 1990s for about $260 million each. Its a decent performer in a number of roles, from air defense to anti-submarine work, to coastal patrol and special forces support but a master of none. The Israelis are looking for a next-generation vessel with better high-end capabilities, and the USA is their logical supplier. Given Israels size and cost requirements, however, the only American option is their Littoral Combat Ship.
SHIP LCS Israel Industry Participation
LCS-I components
(click to view full)

The Israelis have a long-standing relationship with Lockheed Martin, and a 2,500-3,000t LCS design with the USAs swappable mission modules could significantly improve Israels ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare and mine neutralization missions. Unfortunately, the weak armament of the USAs LCS ships is inadequate for the Israelis, who need their ships to be able to engage other naval vessels, and to provide their own air defense. Worse, the American design lacks the flexibility to add meaningful weapons upgrades in future. As a result, the Israelis took a different approach, eliminating the ships swappable mission modules in favor of a much more heavily-armed vessel.

Initial studies were conducted in conjunction with Lockheed Martin, leading to an RFP and even an official $1.9 billion DSCA request for Lockheed Martins LCS-I design. That would have made Israel the first LCS export customer but now the Israelis are reportedly backing away from the ships high costs, and looking at another solution

* LCS-I: Details and Rationale [updated]
* Contracts & Key Events [updated]
* Additional Readings & Sources [updated]

Displaying 266 of 3,003 words (about 8 pages)

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/an-lcs-for-israel-04065/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=did&utm_medium=textlink#more-4065




Provost

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States 1924-1929