Magen (Sa’ar 6)

The Sa'ar 6-class corvette, with INS Magen as its lead ship, is a series of advanced warships built for the Israeli Navy. These vessels are primarily designed for coastal defense, protecting Israel's exclusive economic zone, and safeguarding offshore gas platforms.

Developed under a 2015 agreement with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the Magen was designed based on the MEKO 100 platform to accommodate heavy Israeli-designed radar and weapon systems. The lead ship, INS Magen, arrived in Israel in late 2020 and officially entered active service in 2021 after undergoing extensive outfitting of its combat suites in Haifa. The class saw its first combat deployments during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, patrolling both the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts. In April 2024, the vessel's shipboard C-Dome defense system achieved its first-ever combat interception against a hostile drone near Eilat, cementing the class as a cornerstone of Israel's modern naval defense.