Israel navy drills attack on offshore gas rigs
Recent exercise simulated interception of missile threat to gas drilling platform, as well as a strike on an enemy ship
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
The Israeli Navy successfully completed a complex exercise last week led by its missile boats flotilla, the military announced Wednesday.
The drill included two major attack and defense scenarios at sea.
In the first scenario, an aircraft simulated a missile threat against an Israeli gas rig. The threat was detected on board a Sa’ar 4.5 missile boat, and was shot down by an interceptor missile launched from the ship.
The navy noted that the ship was recently fitted with state-of-the art detection and observation systems, including the new Fire Sickle radar system which officials said significantly improves vessels’ tracking capabilities.
Last week’s drill was the first live test of the ship in its new configuration.
In the second scenario, a seaborne target simulating an enemy ship was struck by two cruise missiles launched by the ships INS Lahav and INS Kidon. The target was successfully hit and destroyed.
Col. Adar Gershon, who led the drill, said it “aided in improving the readiness and professional capabilities of the naval crews. The missile boats flotilla is ready and prepared for all threats in the maritime arena.”
Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group has threatened in recent months to attack Israel’s offshore gas rigs, some of which it asserts are operating in Lebanon’s territorial waters — a claim Israel rejects.
The Times of Israel Community.