Eilat

Description: The Eilat/Saar V class of large missile corvettes have been designed to perform anti-surface (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) with a limited defense capability against airborne threats using Barak surface-to-air missile system. General Dynamics designed and built three vessels in the United States in the early 1990s for the Israeli Navy. The combat system was installed in Israel. These multipurpose ships were commissioned in 1994 and 1995. In early 2009, the Israeli Navy was considering the procurement of further improved ships called Saar 5.5 or purchasing the more sophisticated Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The three existing Saar 5 corvettes are the backbone of the Israeli Navy's surface fighting fleet and are assigned to the Mediterranean Sea.

The propulsion system consists of two shafts, two diesel engines developing 6,600-bhp for cruise at 20-kt and one LM2500 boost gas turbine developing 23,000-shp and a top speed of 33-kt. The ship features an aft flight deck and hangar for one one Dauphin helicopter. The ship's sensor suite includes TPS-44 3D radar and Type 796 hull-mounted sonar as well as SLQ-25 Nixie countermeasures. The weapon options include both Harpoon and Gabriel anti-ship missiles, 64 Barak vertical launch missiles, one Phalanx close-in weapon system, two 20mm anti-aircraft guns and two triple 12.75-inch torpedo tubes.