Posted on 06/29/2009 7:35:46 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Navy Drops US Warship for Made-in-Israel Option
by Yehudah Lev Kay
(IsraelNN.com) The Israeli navy has dropped plans to purchase U.S. made warships and instead is exploring the possibility of a home-grown military shipbuilding industry, according to the website of Defense News.
The Ministry of Defense had originally planned on purchasing either the small Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) from Lockheed Martin or similar corvettes built by Northrop Grumman. However, costs for the LCS ships skyrocketed to $637 million, and costs for the corvettes were estimated at $450 million, both deemed prohibitive to the navy.
As much as we sought commonality with the U.S. Navy, it became much, much more expensive than planned, a naval source said. At the end of the day, we had no choice but to face that fact that, for us, it was unaffordable."
Instead, the ministry is now considering building two ships based on the German Meko A-100 corvette at the Israel Shipyards in Haifa, where the project would give a much-needed shot in the arm to the economy.
One of the things we put on the table is how to vector our urgent operational needs into a project that can support local industry, the source said. We believe a strong case can be made for making this into a national project that fosters self sufficiency and provides all the economic benefits that come with creating a military shipbuilding industry.
The 2,200-ton Meko was designed by the Hamburg-based ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, which currently builds Dolphin-class submarines for the Israeli navy. The version to be built in Haifa would likely include on-board systems built by the Israel Aerospace Industries.
The main issue which needs to be worked out for the program to take off is how the defense ministry will finance a home-grown ship
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...

A version of Poland's A-100
Now that is a beautiful looking ship.
Affected by Obama’s treatment of Israel???
Affected by Obama’s treatment of Israel???
Gawron? Do they call it the “Klingon Class”?
“where the project would give a much-needed shot in the arm to the economy.”
I wish them much luck, but government spending is not good for the economy. Isn’t that just another stimulus package?
Only in America can we build a ship.. with multi-billion dollar costs overruns ... and expect our allies to buy them.
Thats what we get for dissing our allies!
I hope they end up building something that rivals our own!
Looks like the unions are pricing themselves out of a job again. Wonderful.
If the Israelis were seeking “commonality” with the US the actual hull & systems could be anybody’s design. It’s the Radar, Comm gear, and so forth that allow greater interoperability with a US battlegroup, I would think.
The LCS program was a disaster. Instead of building a flotilla of fast, cheap coastal boats the Navy gold-plated the darned things. Now you have a jack-of-all-trades boat that costs almost as much as an Burke-destroyer.
Can’t blame the Israelis. If they purchase ships from abroad, they should only purchase from a friendly country.
Can’t blame the Israelis. If they purchase ships from abroad, they should only purchase from a friendly country.
Unless they make the sides a bit more slanted, looks to have a large radar signature.
Blame the unions for the hugely inflated production costs; in my industry, I see the results of their idiocy every single day.
Give more of your own citizens work, and save a buck to boot? Can’t argue with that logic!
I like the idea. Home built is an important advantage.
placemarker
I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t trust anything sent from HolyO’s administration either!!
Can’t blame them, with the crapping-on they’ve been getting from 0bama.
Smart move by Bibi’s Navy. With the way things are going between Israel and Obama I would be uneasy depending on US assistance and supply were I Bibi. Go to other sources even if they are not quite up to specs of US stuff. The Israelis have a good history of making good equipment into great equipment.
An unspoken reason for this is that Israel believes they can’t trust America as long as it is run by Obama.
Seems obvious this was about a lot more than “cost”. Obama has really poisoned the water with this vital ally. If we don’t limit him to a single term, who will Israel replace us with as an ally? China? India? Russia?
Who can blame them?
How can they feel like they can count on the U.S. for anything anymore?
The way things are rapidly going, tiny Israel will soon be the greatest force for freedom and democracy in the world.
Precisely the same methodology Obamunism is going to use to force his "re-making" of American down the throats of ordinary citizens: make any alternative unaffordable.
Sounds like hope and change for the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Obama was already talking about cutting the fleet, and if foreign purchasers dry up as well. . . .
Bath Iron Works got a reprieve earlier, perhaps in return for the Collins-Snowe Porkulus votes.
But I can see why Israel wants to build its own ships. Much cheaper. Plus, would they want to rely for critical defense needs on a Muslim POTUS who as good as told them that he intends to betray them as soon as he gets the chance?
Looks like more than the F-22 is being priced out of the market.
This is a natural outcome of not being able to trust an ally.
Probably a good idea for Israel to move away from US defense systems for policital reasons, as well.
why does it say there are 29 replies and there is nothing?
Israel was probably worried they would get a “smart car” version of a warship.
Us shipbuilding is completely broken.
I detect the hand of American Labor in this.
ping
I responded early on to this post, but no new posts are showing up—also tried to post a news article twice and it showed up as having gone through, but it’s not showing up on the forum page—anyone else having problems with posting today??
The US is becoming an unreliable military partner for Israel. Recall the reluctance of BHO to supply Israel with ordered helicopters lest some Palestinians get hurt by them. There would be no guarantee that any ships promised and built would actually be delivered. Israel is being smart to start to disassociate itself form complete reliance upon the US.
The US is becoming an unreliable military partner for Israel. Recall the reluctance of BHO to supply Israel with ordered helicopters lest some Palestinians get hurt by them. There would be no guarantee that any ships promised and built would actually be delivered. Israel is being smart to start to disassociate itself form complete reliance upon the US.
testing
Is it Groundhog Day on FR?
Anybody having problems with FreeRepublic?????
What happened to the 41 replies?
I wouldn't throw any business, particularly business that may effect Israels national security, to a United States run by a muzzie loving, Jew-hating (escept for liberal American Jews that vote for him) fraud-of-a-president.
Besides, the Israelis have shown that they are quite capable of producing outstanding military equipment and weapons on their own.
I wouldn't throw any business, particularly business that may effect Israels national security, to a United States run by a muzzie loving, Jew-hating (escept for liberal American Jews that vote for him) fraud-of-a-president.
Besides, the Israelis have shown that they are quite capable of producing outstanding military equipment and weapons on their own.
Saving UNION jobs....Obama style.
Saving UNION jobs....Obama style.
Good for the Israeli navy. If I were an Israeli, as long as the dems and Obama are in power, I won’t buy anything from the the U.S.
a not so subtle flip of the old bird to the O-mna, with thanks for his support no doubt.
Good for the Israeli navy.
If I were an Israeli, as long as the dems and Obama are in power, I wouldn’t buy anything from the the U.S.
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