On Tuesday, the delivery and flag-raising ceremony for the INS Nahshon landing craft, the first of two platforms to be received by the Israeli Navy, occurred at the Pascagoula Shipyard in the United States. The ceremony was led by the Commanding Officer of Haifa Naval Base, RDML Tal Politis, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Defense’s procurement delegation.
According to an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) release, the landing craft is a formidable combat vessel capable of operations in distant arenas. It measures approximately 95 meters in length, around 20 meters in width, and has a displacement exceeding 2500 tons. The landing craft’s team consists of dozens of naval combat soldiers, with a quarter of them being female. The commanding officer of the vessel holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCdr.).
These landing crafts will play a pivotal role in adapting the Israeli Navy to the modern and multi-arena battlefield. Among their functions, they will serve as a logistical axis for transporting equipment and soldiers to both nearby and distant areas. Furthermore, the landing crafts will facilitate stronger cooperation between various units within the Israeli Navy, the Technological and Logistics Directorate, and other IDF branches. This collaboration aims to enhance joint operational activity, enabling the multi-branch combat effort to be effective in routine and contingency situations.
The joint construction project for the INS Nahshon landing craft platform, undertaken by the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, commenced approximately 4 years ago. The project began following the procurement delegation of the Ministry of Defense’s acquisition of the platforms using FMF funds from the U.S. government to Israel.
Currently, the INS Nahshon landing craft will enter the final preparation phase, which includes crew training and operational certification tests. In a few months, the landing craft will set sail and reach its home port in Israel. By the year 2024, the landing craft is expected to attain operational status.”
