Major deal: Israel to purchase four patrol ships from Germany to defend gas rigs:


(Von der Leyen and Ya'alon during the ceremony in the Kirya)

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and his German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen signed a contract Monday under which Israel will purchase four ships from Germany to protect its offshore gas rigs.
The total cost of the vessels is estimated at about NIS 1.8 billion. The German government will finance a third of the deal, which was announced a day before Israel and Germany will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.

It's been nearly two decades since Israel replenished its naval ships and military officials are hoping the German ships, advanced surface vessels, will become the future combat boat of the Israeli Navy.

It will take two to four years to complete the construction of the ships and bring them to Israel. The first ship will be delivered in five years, and the remaining three will be delivered within a year a part.

Similar to the new German-made submarines that will arrive in Israel in September, the new ships will arrive "bare", and will be installed with a combat system developed by the defense industry in an process that will take a year.

sumber:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4656029,00.html

* Setelah menanti selama lebih kurang 8 tahun, akhirnya INS dapat "mainan baru"