The Israeli Navy tested a sea-to-sea missile for use in protecting Mediterranean Sea natural gas platforms, the Israel Defense Force announced on Friday.

The missile successfully struck and sank a decommissioned target vessel meant to simulate an enemy vessel. The missiles will be integrated into the Israeli Navy's newest Sa'ar-5 and Sa'ar-6 class ships, made in the United States by Huntington Ingalls Industries.

They are classified as corvettes because of their relatively small size at 420 feet in length. However, their weaponry, including sonar, torpedoes, missile launchers, electronic warfare capabilities and decoys, a gun mount, a helipad and a helicopter hangar, is comparable to that of a modern frigate.

The missile system has not been named. It was developed by Israeli Aerospace Industries, and tested by the Navy and the Defense Ministry's Weapons Development and Technology Infrastructure Administration, known as MAFAT.

"The introduction of the system will serve as a significant addition to the force build up efforts of the Israeli Navy, and ensure its continued naval superiority," a Ministry of Defense statement on Friday said.

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

USS Antietam conducts Tomahawk strike exercise near Guam
Washington DC (UPI) Sep 21, 2020
U.S. military forces in the Valiant Shield 2020 exercise in the Pacific Ocean included a simulated Tomahawk cruise missile attack by the USS Antietam, the U.S. Navy said on Monday. The guided-missile cruiser, part of the strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, successfully targeted land on the uninhabited Farallon de Medinilla range off the coast of Guam on Sunday. The exercise demonstrated the ship's ability to "track, target, and engage threats to protect peace and ... read more