When first delivered in late 2020 and throughout 2021, the ships were essentially capable only of sailing. Since then, they have been outfitted with advanced sensors, weapons and communication systems.
Three of the four ships have now been declared fully operational, with the fourth — delivered in August 2021 — very close to that stage, nearly two years after it was received.
The two years it took for each ship to be declared operational is considered relatively quick by Navy standards, as the previous class of corvette, the Sa’ar-5, took around 10 years to be declared operational.
The ships are far larger and more powerful than the Sa’ar 5-class warships, and are specifically meant to protect the country’s gas field and shipping lanes. While larger in size, the ship shows up as far smaller on radar, thanks to advancements in stealth technology in recent decades. (Read More)
