Globes reported yesterday:
In the early hours of this [Sunday] morning, the Israel Navy attacked energy infrastructure that serves the regime of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, some 2,000 kilometers from Israel’s shores. The strikes were aimed at the Sanaa area, in an attempt to raise the pressure on Iran’s proxies in Yemen to stop launching ballistic missiles and UAVs at Israel.The strike was carried out by naval vessels stationed in the Red Sea, led by a Sa’ar 6 missile ship, originally intended for protecting the gas production platforms in the Mediterranean. The Sa’ar 6 class ships are equipped with advanced radar and high-quality protection systems. They carry the maritime version of the Iron Dome rocket interception system C-Dome, which forms part of Israel’s layered air defenses.
We hear a lot about the Israeli Air Force and not so much about its navy. But Israel has built up impressive naval capabilities in recent years, which makes it less necessary to use the air force for long distance strikes.
The article describes some of the other components of Israel's Navy:
Israel also has Dolphin AIP (air-independent propulsion) submarines that can reach Yemen underwater. On the surface, their range is double, and they are capable of operating in the area of Iran as well.
Another important layer that began to be operational with the Israel Navy is unmanned maritime vessels (UMV), also known as unmanned surface vessels (USV). The maritime divisions of Israel’s major defense companies have been developing and selling UMVs for a decade.
Rafael produces the Protector, a USV designed to assist and protect forces. It carries a high-pressure water gun, and the Mini-Typhoon stabilized weapon system. It is intended for missions along shorelines and in ports. Another company that has been active in this field for several years is Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which, in 2014, unveiled the Katana, also meant for routine security operations, for example protection of offshore strategic assets such as drilling rigs and oil pipelines.
IAI is also very active in the field of unmanned submarines. Its outstanding product is the Blue Whale, the result of collaboration with German company Atlas Electronik. Blue Whale gathers intelligence by means of a telescopic mast (like a submarine’s periscope) on which are mounted radar and electro-optic systems for detecting targets at sea and on shore. Information is transmitted in real time via satellite communications antennae to command posts, that can be anywhere, at sea or on land.
Impressive!
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