Sa'ar 6 vs Shahid Soleimani
Sa'ar 6 vs Shahid Soleimani at a glance — displacement 1,900 vs 600 tons, length 90 vs 65 m, speed 33 vs 32 knots, crew 70 vs 40.
| Sa'ar 6 | Shahid Soleimani | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 🇮🇱 Israel | 🇮🇷 Iran |
| Category | Corvette | Corvette |
| Type | Corvette | Missile corvette |
| Manufacturer | German Naval Yards Holdings | Shahid Mahallati Shipyard, Bushehr |
| Year introduced | 2023 | 2022 |
| Number built | 4 units | NA |
| Estimated unit price | $139 million | NA |
| Displacement | 1,900 tons | 600 tons |
| Maximum speed | 33.0 knots | 32.0 knots |
| Range | 4,000 nm at 17 knots | 5,000 nm |
| Length | 90.0 m | 65.0 m |
| Beam | 11.9 m | 14.5 m |
| Crew | 70 | 40 |
| Sa'ar 6 | Shahid Soleimani | |
|---|---|---|
| Armament |
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|
| Propulsion | 1 General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine with a power of 30,000 hp - 2 propellers | -- |
Detailed Comparison
The Israeli Sa'ar 6 and Iranian Shahid Soleimani execute opposing naval doctrines. Israel relies on heavily armed conventional corvettes to secure fixed maritime infrastructure, while the IRGC Navy operates low-displacement catamarans for anti-access/area denial in the Persian Gulf.
Development and Design
The Sa'ar 6 adapts the German Braunschweig-class hull, displacing 1,900 tons. Israel modified the baseline MEKO architecture to integrate indigenous combat management systems and sensors, prioritizing area air defense for offshore gas platforms. The Shahid Soleimani, built domestically in Bushehr, displaces 600 tons. Its catamaran hull provides a 14.5-meter beam, enabling a wider weapons payload than single-hull vessels of comparable displacement while maintaining a shallow draft for littoral operations.
Weapons and Sensors
The Sa'ar 6 functions as an air defense destroyer scaled down into a corvette hull. It carries 72 surface-to-air missile cells (32 Barak-8, 40 C-Dome) cued by Elbit's EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar. Anti-surface armament includes 16 Gabriel V and Harpoon Block II missiles, plus a 76mm main gun and torpedoes. The Shahid Soleimani lacks equivalent radar integration but fields an oversized surface strike package for its tonnage:
- 4 Noor/Ghadir and 2 Nasir anti-ship missiles
- 6 Abu-Mahdi surface-to-surface cruise missiles
- 16 vertical launch cells for Sayyad-2/3 SAMs
- 30mm autocannon and 6 20mm gatling guns
The Sa'ar 6 operates an MH-60 Seahawk from a dedicated hangar, whereas the Iranian vessel relies on an exposed stern deck for aviation support.
Propulsion and Performance
Powered by a General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine, the Sa'ar 6 achieves 33 knots with a 4,000-nautical-mile range at 17 knots. The Shahid Soleimani hits 32 knots, though its catamaran design trades seakeeping in high sea states for stability in the sheltered Persian Gulf. Iranian claims of a 5,000-nautical-mile range are anomalous for a 600-ton vessel and assume low-speed transit without heavy payloads.
Deployment and Combat Record
Following their 2023 operational declaration, Sa'ar 6 vessels deployed to the Red Sea to intercept incoming ballistic threats from Yemen using the C-Dome system. The Shahid Soleimani class entered service with the IRGC in 2022. During the 2026 Iran war, the class proved highly vulnerable to conventional strikes. U.S. Central Command forces destroyed IRIS Shahid Soleimani in port at Bandar Abbas on 3 March during Operation Epic Fury, and sank IRIS Shahid Sayyad Shirazi at sea the following day.
Conclusion
The Sa'ar 6 holds the absolute advantage in blue-water engagements, fleet defense, and sustained operations. Its AESA radar and layered Barak-8/C-Dome umbrella allow it to survive in contested airspace, making it an effective platform for conventional warfare. The Shahid Soleimani operates strictly as a coastal ambush asset. While it carries a dense anti-ship payload for littoral strikes, its lack of advanced sensor integration and established vulnerability to modern air-strikes—demonstrated by the 2026 losses—relegate it to a localized threat rather than a peer combatant.