The Israeli government has authorized the acquisition of next-generation corvettes and “hundreds” of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) for its armed forces.
According to a Ministry of Defense announcement, the Israeli Navy will soon receive five Reshef-class advanced missile corvettes to replace its aging Sa’ar 4.5-class vessels.
The new corvettes will be deployed for various maritime missions, including combat operations and patrols.
In addition, Israel will procure an unspecified number of JLTVs, which are manufactured in the US, for its maneuvering units.
The vehicles will support a range of operations, including combat, troop transport, and search and rescue missions.
There are two US manufacturers of JLTVs — Oshkosh Defense and AM General — but it remains unclear which model Israel will choose.
Israel Approves Multi-Billion Shekel Defense Procurement Package
The Israel Military Procurement Ministerial Committee approved several major acquisitions, including Project “Reshef”—the Israeli Navy’s next-generation missile ship—and hundreds of new JLTVs.
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) November 25, 2024
Long-Overdue?
The decision to purchase the next-generation corvettes was initially revealed in May 2023 during the Combined Naval Event conference in Farnborough, UK.
Commander Yonatan Kudish, head of the Israel Navy’s Platform Development Branch, stated that the new ships would be equipped with a main gun, an active electronically scanned array radar, and the C-Dome air defense system.
Production is expected to begin this year, with the new corvettes slated to enter service by 2027.
“We are going to build the sections of the ship in the United States, combine them together, then integrate the combat system back in Israel. Israel Shipyards will be our main contractor, with the US shipyard as their subcontractor,” Kudish noted.
The defense ministry further noted that the local production of these vessels is expected to generate hundreds of jobs in Israel.
Reassessing Defense Priorities
Following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the government established a new committee to reassess defense priorities and accelerate its military buildup.
The defense ministry said the decision to procure modern assets is part of this broader reassessment of defense spending amid ongoing conflict.
Along with the new corvettes and JLTVs, Israel has already announced plans to procure 25 F-15 fighter jets through US military aid
It has also earmarked $530 million to fast-track the development of its Iron Beam laser air defense system.
