From missile boats to machine guns (Israeli company)

Haaretz, Israel ^ | 31.12.10 | Ora Coren

[sukhoi-30mki]

From missile boats to machine guns

By Ora Coren

Israel Shipyards Ltd., one of the companies owned by the Samy Katsav Group, designs and manufacturers military platforms such as missile boats, gunboats and guard boats, as well as civilian platforms that include freighters that carry up to 4,500 tons of general cargo.

Another group company, whose products are familiar to most Israeli infantry units, is the Israel Weapon Industries (known as IWI ). The group bought the company, then called Magen, in 2005 from the government-owned Israel Military Industries.

"The newly purchased plant required thorough care after years of difficulties. The plant recovered and expanded substantially in terms of revenue and manpower, and exports 90 percent of its production," says Uri Amit, IWI's president.

The plant manufactures light weapons, ranging from handguns to light machine guns, and its flagship product is the family of Tavor rifles.

Katsav confirms that the Tavor was nearly ready for sale when he bought the factory.

Amit adds: "The flagship product today is the Tavor, which was developed in the IMI days and has since become a world-class product, which the Israel Defense Forces chose as standard issue for the infantry in the reduced version called the Micro Tavor (an assault rifle ). This rifle will do for Israel's reputation what the Uzi, which was also developed here, once did."

Katsav adds: "We completed the development of the Tavor and we introduced it to the market. We think that this is the best assault rifle in the world."

What sets apart the Micro Tavor, whose development Katsav takes responsibility for, is its size: It is two-thirds the length of a comparable weapon, making it more convenient to carry and operate.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Saar 4.5 class missile boat

[MSF BU]

How does that vessel compare to the equivalents available from the US, UK, etc?

[sukhoi-30mki]

It’s a missile boat so it’s at the lower end of the spectrum regarding range or sensors compared to the vessels built in the UK or US (which more or less doesn’t build such ships any more.

In terms of armament, it’s probably the most heavily armed class of warship in the world per displacement tonne. It carries up to 14 anti-ship missiles and 32 short range SAMs. Not too bad for a ship which displaces less than 500 tonnes!!

[MSF BU]

So I’m assuming this might be a good value for something like Taiwan?

[sukhoi-30mki]

Taiwan can easily build boats such as these as well as bigger ones. They haven’t had a lot of good fortune in securing sensors and weaponry from the Europeans and even the US at times.

What they need the most now is submarines, which they are unlikely to get.