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Further Reading

Dvora / Super Dvora

In 1988, the Dvora Class Patrol Boats joined the growing Israel Navy fleet. While the ship was constructed according to the Dabur Class Patrol Boat design, its two meters longer and much quicker in speed. The troops serving in the Dvora boats are imbued with a spirit of comradeship, pride and high levels of motivation.

In January 2002, the Israeli Navy announced plans to acquired eight new Fast Patrol Boats (FPB) including six Super Dvora Mk III and two Shaldag II FPBs. The navy had options to order two more Shaldag [Kingfisher] boats. Deliveries were scheduled for late 2003. This order was a part of a US$40 million fleet modernization program that comprised replacement of older Dvora class FPBs with new Israel Shipyards Shaldag II and IAI/Ramta Super Dvora Mk III types which were improved versions of the Dvora class then in service. Both vessels were faster than existing FPBs in Israel Navy service, and capable of operations at extended ranges of up to 700 nautical miles. In September 2006 the Israeli Navy (IN) ordered seven new Fast Patrol Boats from IAI/Ramta and Israel Shipyards, to replace obsolete Dvora and Dabur FPBs. The new order includes Super Dvora Mk III and Shaldag II FPBs.

Super Dvora Class of Multi-Mission Patrol & Attack Boats The ideal purpose designed platform to accomplish the diverse variety of missions of off-shore patrol, EEZ control, law enforcement, naval intelligence, command & control, interdiction and boarding of suspect targets, as well as non-military missions such as search & rescue, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The Super Dvora class is fast and agile, and designed to attain and sustain high operating tempos. Its hull geometry provides stable seakeeping at all speeds, and a dry deck during high-speed runs and pursuit.

Because littoral patrol duties, by definition, require high maneuverability and operational proficiency from the shallowest inlets and beaches to the outer limits of maritime boundaries and beyond, the propulsion and steering systems of this class of craft also accommodate extremely shallow draft and beaching operations.

In active service around the globe, the Super Dvora is suitably sized to provide ample fuel reserves, adaptable mission payload (including sensors, weapons, ammunition, countermeasures, etc.), and is ergonomically designed with comfortable crew accommodations and work environments.

Deep sea capable, but specifically designed from the keel up for the full array of littoral, anti-terror, law enforcement and coastal security missions, the latest generation Super Dvora Mk. I, II and III are 'mission agile' providing 'flexibility in command decisions'.

In 1996 the Super Dvora Class Fast Patrol, an updated and improved version of the Dvora Class Patrol Boat was added to the Israel Navy fleet. The patrol boats are equipped with precise long range cannons. The Super Dvora is a high-speed patrol and attack craft designed and built by Israel Aircraft Industries-Ramta. The Super Dvora is capable of conducting all-weather surveillance, search and rescue, and patrolling duties. Since its initial design, the Super Dvora has gone through several upgrades including the Super Dvora Mk II and Mk III. The Super Dvora can accommodate up to a 30 mm cannon, or various caliber machine guns.

The first Super Dvora MK-3 waterjet-powered fast patrol craft began sea trials in early 2008. In its maiden sea trial carried out recently, the waterjet-powered fast patrol craft attained a top speed of 48.3 knots in seasonal waters reaching Sea State 3 (wave heights of 3.5 ft). The Super Dvora MK-3 is designed and produced by the Ramta Division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), located in Beer Sheva, Israel. The craft being tested was the first waterjet powered craft of the Super Dvora MK-3 class. The craft are available with a choice of propulsion options, using either state-of-the-art articulating surface drives (ASD) as incorporated in the first six Super Dvora MK-3's and dozens of other Mark-2's and "Dabur" class craft from IAI/Ramta, or waterjet propulsion.

"The selection of propulsion systems for our craft, whether waterjets or ASD, has always been the customer's decision", says Dr. Daniel Seren, chief naval architect of IAI/Ramta and head of its naval systems businesses. "We're very pleased with the achievements of the first Mark-3 waterjet craft in its first time out in relatively stormy conditions".

The waterjet powered Super Dvora MK-3 is 27.4 meters (90 ft.) in length, 5.7 meters (18.7 ft.) at its beam and has a displacement ranging up to 72 tonnes. The craft uses two MTU4000M90 diesel engines driving two Ka Me Wa 63SII waterjets. The craft possesses a very lethal precision strike capability using the Rafael, Ltd. "Typhoon" stabilized 25mm cannon slaved to an IAI Tamam Division POP-300 day/night mast-mounted optronic payload. The craft excels in high-speed maneuverability in both shallow and deep water, and has a range of over 1,250 nautical miles. The Super Dvora MK-3 was designed in its entirety around advanced human engineering, and has a proven very low life-cycle cost to operate and maintain.