Israel Shopping for New Warships

Israel Shopping for New Warships

21 June 2001

Analysis

In a move expected to provoke similar actions from Egypt and Syria, Israel may buy up to five new Sa'ar-5 corvettes, according to the Jerusalem Post. The warships would help Israel secure coastal waters and potentially provide a platform for nuclear weapons.

Neighbouring rivals are already moving to increase their naval capabilities, partly to counter Israel's new bid for sea power. Shifting the focus from land-based to naval defence systems will challenge the dominant role of national armies in the Middle East and North Africa and foster inter-service rivalries that could impair each country's military readiness.

Israel already has three Sa'ar-5s in service, and the new models - costing more than $200 million each - would substantially improve Israel's naval strength. Ton-for-ton, the Sa'ar-5 is considered the most heavily armed ship in the world. Each is stocked with Harpoon and Gabriel II surface-to-surface missiles, torpedoes, a 76 mm gun and Barak surface-to-air missiles, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The warships would serve a dual purpose: They could increase Israel's ability to launch nuclear strikes from the sea - a capability that now depends mostly on Dolphin-class submarines newly acquired from Germany - and they would help secure Israel's coastal waters. In May, the Israeli navy intercepted a Lebanese ship smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip, but the ship's captain said two similar cargos' had made it through.

But neighbouring countries will not let Israel's naval build-up go unchallenged. Logical countermeasures include attack submarines, anti-ship missiles and coastal patrol craft. Potential rivals along the Mediterranean already are exploring some of these options.

Algeria is looking to upgrade its two Russian-built Kilo-class submarines. Algeria already operates medium-range diesel-electric boats. Egypt has signed a letter of intent to purchase two Moray 1400-class diesel-electric submarines, Defense Daily International reported in October. It already has four antiquated Russian-type Romeo-class submarines built by China.

According to sources close to the Russian defence industry, Syria and Egypt are both interested in the Russian-built "Sunburn" anti-ship missile, known technically as the SS-N-22 MOSKIT. The Sunburn can reach speeds past Mach 2 - twice as fast as American Harpoons or French Exocets - reducing the target's time to launch countermeasures.

Israel's potential adversaries, such as Egypt and Syria, likely will reconfigure their military budgets to counter the emerging sea threat - but to their own detriment. The Egyptian and Syrian armies, which traditionally get the lion's share of military funding, face quality and readiness issues.

Spending more money on their navies won't be easy for Cairo or Damascus. Their military budgets have stayed relatively flat over the past five years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and both economies are struggling. Egypt and Syria may get some favourable purchasing terms from Russia, but they will likely have to divert funds away from their armies.

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