Exclusive: Israel buys 2 new submarines from Germany

[Hashim_507]

In the face of Iran's race to obtain nuclear power, Israel signed a contract with Germany last month to buy two Dolphin-class submarines that will, according to foreign reports, provide superior second-strike nuclear capabilities, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The submarines will be assembled in Germany and provided with a propulsion system allowing them to remain underwater for far longer than the submarines currently in the Israel Navy's fleet.

According to sources close to the deal, the submarines will be operational in the near future.

The Post has also learned that the navy is considering installing a Fixed Underwater Sonar System (FUSS) off the coast to detect foreign submarines.

In 1993, Iran bought two Russian Kilo-class submarines and eight mini-submarines from North Korea, although officials said this was not the only reason the system was being considered. In 2005, Israel spotted a Western submarine snooping off its shore.

The contract signing was said to have come after a long dispute over the price and financing of the submarines. According to the details obtained by the Post, Israel will purchase the two Dolphins, manufactured by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG, for $1.27 billion, a third of which will be financed by the German government.

The navy already has three Dolphin-class submarines. They are the most expensive weapon platforms in the IDF's arsenal. Germany donated the first two submarines after the first Gulf War and split the cost of the third with Israel. The three submarines currently in the navy's possession employ a diesel-electric propulsion system, which requires them to resurface frequently to recharge their batteries.

The new submarines - called the U212 - will be fitted with a new German technology in which the propulsion system combines a conventional diesel lead-acid battery system and an air-independent propulsion system used for slow, silent cruising, with a fuel cell equipped with oxygen and hydrogen storage.

The submarines will also incorporate specifications gleaned from Israeli experience. The Dolphins currently in the navy's fleet were tailor-made for Israel's needs and reportedly have considerable operational capability. They are designed for a crew of 35 and can support 10 passengers. They have a maximum speed of 20 knots, a range of 4,500 kilometers and, according to Jane's Defense Weekly, the capability to launch cruise missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

"With the new German technology," an official close to the deal said, "the new submarines will be able to remain submerged for much, much longer than the older Dolphin models."

News of the impending deal first emerged in November after Der Spiegel reported that chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's outgoing government had agreed to sell Israel two submarines at a heavily discounted price.

Prior to then, the German government had repeatedly turned down the request, supposedly because of reports the navy had outfitted the older submarines with Israeli-made, sea-launched cruise missiles.

Sensitive armament sales need approval from Berlin's Security Council. Several months ago, however, the German government, now headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, approved the deal after, sources told the Post, no significant public opposition was voiced.

Closure of the deal followed on the heels of a warming in German-Israel ties. In 2005, the countries agreed for the first time to hold joint ground maneuvers. In June, the INS Eilat missile ship participated for the first time in a NATO exercise in the Black Sea, together with German Navy.



One of the Israeli Navy's three Dolphin submarines.
Photo: IDF
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Zionist are preparing for huge wars, they are ready to massacre more civilians in the middle east regions. Why do they pressure iran on nukes? Take a look at those submarines, it has nuclear capability. Those bullies are looking for troubles, what kind of trouble? WAR!!!

[wilberhum]

Zionist are preparing for huge wars.

Of course Israel is preparing for a huge war. With both neighbors having stated objectives or destroying them, why wouldn’t they?

They are ready to massacre more civilians in the Middle East regions.

Then maybe there neighbors will think twice before attacking them again.

Why do they pressure Iran on nukes?

Because Iran wants to destroy Israel too.

Those bullies are looking for troubles, what kind of trouble? WAR!!!

Are they looking for war or preparing for the enviable?

Do you think only Muslim countries have the right to defend themselves?

[Woodrow]

I am still a bit confused over the subs. I could be wrong, but I have never viewed a sub as being a weapon of defense.

I do agree though that any country has a right to have anything for self defense. I just don't like the potential for aggression.

I just wish there was a such thing as pure defense weapons.

I don't like the idea of any country having nuke capabilities. It is just a matter of time before some country is going to be like a little kid with a big box of fireworks, going to have to try the biggest one just to see what it will do.

[ManchesterFolk]

I could be wrong, but I have never viewed a sub as being a weapon of defense.

If Iran drops a Nuke on Israel how will they respond? Maybe Iran will think twice before they fire a Nuke if they know that two subs are waiting to strike them back.

Psycologically it is completly a weapon of defense. Why make the purchase so public while Iran is striving for Nukes?

[Woodrow]

If Iran drops a Nuke on Israel how will they respond? Maybe Iran will think twice before they fire a Nuke if they know that two subs are waiting to strike them back.

Psycologically it is completly a weapon of defense. Why make the purchase so public while Iran is striving for Nukes?

Good point, but it can also be viewed as a potential threat. Even a hamster is going to bite if it feels threatened. It is a very risky game and opens the door for undesired results.

I would suspect that every nation, history portrayed as aggressors, saw themselves as defenders at the time.

Who is a defender and who is an aggressor appears to be a judgemental value decided by whoever is writting the history.

[Keltoi]

Israel already has nuclear capability, so I don't see why two sub purchases should be seen as some kind of weapon build-up.

[Woodrow]

Israel already has nuclear capability, so I don't see why two sub purchases should be seen as some kind of weapon build-up.

The subs have missle capabilities. Short range missles can be launched close to the oppossing force and this eliminates the need to develope long range missles. Gives a patriot missle the effectiveness of a Saturn 5 ICBM without the cost or the necessary testing. Israel already has Patrots for defense. They are short range rendering their usage to defense, unless the launch site can be moved closer to a distant target.

[therebbe]

Ths subs are basically a publicity stunt and a safe gaurd warning anyone that if Israel is attacked to not think that there will not retaliation. You see, Israel being about the size of New Jersey if hit by a Nuclear Bomb could be completly destroyed as a country. Israel's enemies know this, and Israel is trying to show, that any country that does attack Israel will be hit back by Subs with Nuclear bombs. I think it is a smart move on there part to show they have the ability to strike back even if there entire country is a Nuclear wasteland. It could possibly make enemies think twice before attacking.

[north_malaysian]

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia - all have submarines ... it's all part of the Defence collection items.... every nation with sea shores need at least one submarine!!!

[Trumble]

The subs have missle capabilities. Short range missles can be launched close to the oppossing force and this eliminates the need to develope long range missles. Gives a patriot missle the effectiveness of a Saturn 5 ICBM without the cost or the necessary testing. Israel already has Patrots for defense. They are short range rendering their usage to defense, unless the launch site can be moved closer to a distant target.

The weapon concerned is the Popeye Turbo, an Israeli designed cruise missile with a range of 350km or so. It is already equipped on the Israeli Dolphins in service, so there is no new capability here, just slightly better submarines.

[AvarAllahNoor]

Israel already has nuclear capability, so I don't see why two sub purchases should be seen as some kind of weapon build-up.

No harm adding a few more to the stock pile

[AvarAllahNoor]

Altoghether now, 'We all live in a yellow submarine,
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine...

[catmando]

Altoghether now, 'We all live in a yellow submarine,
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine...

Lol

[QuranStudy]

If Iran drops a Nuke on Israel how will they respond? Maybe Iran will think twice before they fire a Nuke if they know that two subs are waiting to strike them back.

Any military expert will tell you that Israel has little chance of dfeating Iran, unless its an air warfare or if Israel uses nukes. Israel already lost twice to Hezbollah.

[wilberhum]

Any military expert will tell you that Israel has little chance of dfeating Iran, unless its an air warfare or if Israel uses nukes. Israel already lost twice to Hezbollah.

I think if the choice is distruction and not occupation, Iran doesn't stand a chance.

[Hashim_507]

Of course Israel is preparing for a huge war. With both neighbors having stated objectives or destroying them, why wouldn’t they?

Then maybe there neighbors will think twice before attacking them again.

Because Iran wants to destroy Israel too.

Are they looking for war or preparing for the enviable?

Do you think only Muslim countries have the right to defend themselves?

I dont think Iran will ever drop nuke bomb on isreal, Iran was phrasing defeating zionism but not to wipe Isreal out of the map using nuke bombs.

[Keltoi]

Personally, I don't think Iran makes any distinction between "Zionism" and the state of Israel.

[QuranStudy]

Personally, I don't think Iran makes any distinction between "Zionism" and the state of Israel.

You should watch Ahmedinejad's interview with Mike Wallace. He clearly explained the distinction and his motives.

[therebbe]

You should watch Ahmedinejad's interview with Mike Wallace. He clearly explained the distinction and his motives.

Of course he did. The whole world was watching and it would be bad PR to reveal your plans. Would it not?

[ACC]

Any military expert will tell you that Israel has little chance of dfeating Iran, unless its an air warfare or if Israel uses nukes. Israel already lost twice to Hezbollah.

If Israel had fought a war with the 'gloves off' hebollah would cease to exist as a viable entity. Western and Western style countries often have to fight wars in the public eye just as much as in the field. Their enemies are usually not held to the same standards,.

That being said, Israel would defeat Iran in an all-out war. If nuclear weapons are included, then neither side wins. Israel would be mostly destroyed but would most certainly wipe out practically every Iranian from the world as well.

Really bad scenarios to contemplate.