Israeli Navy Upgrades Aging Sa'ar 5 Missile Ship With $70 Million Retrofit
The Israeli Navy is investing approximately 250 million shekels (around $70 million) to extensively upgrade the missile ship INS Lahav, one of three Sa'ar 5-class vessels acquired from the U.S. about 35 years ago. Two years ago, while its sister ships INS Hanit and INS Eilat were actively deployed in the Mediterranean and Red Seas amid ongoing regional conflicts, INS Lahav was taken to the Haifa naval shipyard for a complete overhaul. The ship was stripped of all systems and is now being rebuilt with modern equipment, including Rafael's naval Iron Dome missile defense system and an advanced Elta radar. The upgrade is expected to be completed within five months.
This retrofit aims to extend INS Lahav's operational life by at least 15 years, enabling it to support Israel’s defense of critical offshore natural gas platforms and other vital infrastructure within Israel’s economic waters. The ship’s new capabilities will help counter missile and drone threats from Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon. Lieutenant Colonel Roy, head of the Navy’s dedicated upgrade administration, explained that unlike the usual lengthy and costly process of acquiring new ships, which can take 8 to 10 years and cost over 800 million shekels each, this upgrade provides a faster, more cost-effective solution.
The urgency for enhanced naval defense capabilities intensified after the October 7 war, as the Navy was already preparing to deploy four new Sa'ar 6-class ships built in Germany to protect offshore gas fields and maritime traffic. However, the increased threat from Houthi missile launches and expanded naval operations in the Red Sea made the new ships insufficient alone. The retrofit brings INS Lahav’s capabilities close to those of the newer Sa'ar 6 vessels, though physical size constraints prevent installing the Barak MX air defense system.
The Navy has completed the ship’s structural rebuild, replacing tens of thousands of kilometers of cables, and is now installing the advanced combat, navigation, sonar, and communication systems, most of which are classified and developed by Israeli defense industries. Crew training will match that of the Sa'ar 6 ships. Despite space limitations due to the ship’s original 30-year-old design, engineers optimized every centimeter to accommodate the new systems.
Meanwhile, upgrades for INS Hanit and INS Eilat, built alongside INS Lahav at Ingalls Shipbuilding (now owned by Northrop Grumman), are also underway. These plans have been presented to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Navy Commander Major General Eyal Harel. The success of INS Lahav’s upgrade is expected to support further modernization efforts.
In parallel, Israel Shipyards is producing five new Reshef-class missile ships to replace the older Sa'ar 4.5-class vessels, with deliveries planned over the next four years under a 2.8 billion shekel contract. The Navy and Ministry of Defense are considering acquiring additional Reshef ships and expanding the fleet further, informed by lessons from the recent war. Final procurement decisions will be made as part of the IDF’s multi-year acquisition planning.
