Hetz (Sa’ar 4.5)

The Sa'ar 4.5 class, specifically the Hetz subclass, is a series of missile boats built by Israel Shipyards for the Israeli Navy. These corvettes are an evolution of the Sa'ar 4 class, featuring enhanced combat systems and improved capabilities for naval warfare.

Developed in the 1980s to address the Israeli Navy's need for greater range, improved seaworthiness, and advanced electronic warfare suites, the Hetz subclass represented a significant leap in domestic shipbuilding. The lead vessel, INS Hetz, was launched in 1990 and commissioned in 1991, quickly becoming a cornerstone of Israel's littoral defense. Throughout their service, these vessels have been actively deployed in maritime blockade operations, such as during the 2006 Lebanon War, and have participated in numerous high-profile interdictions of weapons smuggling in the Mediterranean. Today, the Hetz-class ships remain in active service, having received extensive modernizations—including the integration of Barak 8 surface-to-air missiles—to operate alongside Israel's newer corvette fleets.