INS Lahav
 INS Lahav with EL/M-2248 MF-STAR installed | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Israel | |
| Name | Lahav |
| Namesake | Blade |
| Builder | Northrop Grumman by Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Launched | August 1993 |
| Commissioned | 23 September 1994[1] |
| Status | Active |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Sa'ar 5-class corvette |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 85.64 m (280.97 ft) |
| Beam | 11.88 m (38.98 ft) |
| Draft | 3.17 m (10.40 ft) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
|
| Range | 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) |
| Complement |
|
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | Eurocopter Panther |
| Aviation facilities | Helipad and helicopter hangar |
INS Lahav (502) (translated as 'blade') is a Sa'ar 5-class corvette of the Israeli Navy's 3rd Flotilla that was built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in 1993. She is one of three Sa'ar 5-class corvettes in service with the Israeli Navy and her homeport is Haifa.[3]
The contract for the construction of the three ships of the class was signed in the early 1980s. Lahav was the second ship of the class to be launched in 1993 and she was commissioned in September 1994. Lahav took part in the 2006 Lebanon War by blockading Lebanese ports. She has also taken part in numerous NATO exercises including one in April 2008 with the Turkish and American navies.[4]
It took part in the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid.
The Israeli Navy chose Lahav as the first Sa'ar 5 corvette to be equipped with the advanced EL/M-2248 MF-STAR radar. On 23 September 2014 she was presented to the public with the new radar at Haifa naval base.[2]
It was reported in July 2026 that Lahav had undergone an extensive overhaul at the Navy's shipyard in Haifa, intended to bring its capabilities upto a similar level as the new Sa'ar 6-class corvettes. The project involved a comprehensive rebuild of the ship's systems including radar, sonar, computing, navigation, and communications. Notably the upgrade adds an integrated C-Dome missile system, the navalized variant of the Iron Dome, for greater anti-air protection. With a total value of approximately $82M (NIS 250M), the modifications were expected to extend the ship's service life by at least another 15 years.[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ "INS Lahav". Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. Archived from the original on March 23, 2006. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
- 1 2 "Israeli Navy Sa'ar 5 class corvettes fitted with IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR multifunction AESA radar". NavalRecognition.com. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ↑ Toppan, Andrew. "World Navies today: Israel". World Navies today. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ↑ "NATO Naval Force Visits Israel for Joint Training Exercise". Jewishvirtuallibraries. 1 April 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ↑ "Israel is rebuilding a 35-year-old missile ship into an Iron Dome-equipped naval shield". calcalistech.com. 20 Jul 2026. Retrieved 25 Jul 2026.
External links
[edit]- Eilat Class Sa'ar 5 Multi-Mission Corvettes, Israel
- Israeli Navy to roll out new C2 system across fleet
- Israeli Navy to begin installing Barak 8 on Sa'ar 4.5 corvettes
- Israeli ship launches Barak-8 SAM for the first time
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