[Defense News] Barbara Opall-Rome - The Israeli Navy soon will receive the first of seven fast patrol craft, aiming to nearly double its coastal defense capabilities by 2009. Contracted in January 2006 under a combined U.S. Foreign Military Sales and locally-funded program, the acquisition includes four Super Dvora Mk-IIIs by Israel Aerospace Industries and three Shaldag, or Kingfisher, craft by Israel Shipyards. All seven ships will feature a German-Swedish jet propulsion system. The acquisition will supplement eight fast patrol vessels deployed over the past three years. In addition to traditional patrol, search-and-rescue and coastal-defense roles, the ships will be optimized for counterterrorism, anti-infiltration and weapon-smuggling missions.
2007-11-08 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive