© Flickr/ Fishman 53
According to a report by the Israeli newspaper
Maariv, the country is secretly preparing to purchase three Dolphin-class submarines from Germany at a total cost of $1.3 billion. This purchase will come in addition to its existing contract for six German submarines, the last of which is due for delivery in 2017.
"The new submarines are said to be more advanced, longer and equipped with better accessories," the newspaper report said.
The Israeli Defense Ministry refused to provide an immediate response.
While Israel pursues a policy of neither acknowledging nor denying its nuclear weapons capabilities, the Dolphin submarines are reportedly able to carry and launch missiles equipped with nuclear warheads.
According to various foreign military experts' estimations, Israel is currently in possession of some 100 nuclear warheads and some 200 missiles to deliver them; however, this information has never been publicly acknowledged. Israel insists the submarines' main goal is to provide the country with intelligence capabilities that no other kind of weapon can offer.
"Submarines bring a level of intelligence to Israel that cannot be achieved by other units," a senior Israeli military representative said in an interview with the Jerusalem Post in 2014. "A submarine can stay in enemy territory for weeks, and no one knows it's there."
In addition to the submarines, Israel reportedly plans to upgrade its entire surface combat fleet. New German-built Sa'ar-6 corvette warships are expected to join the fleet over the next few years, and new radars with electronic warfare systems are being installed on existing Sa'ar-5 and Sa'ar-4.5 ships. The total cost of four Sa'ar-6 corvettes is estimated as 430 million euros ($468 million).
Comment: : Further reading:
Update: Big Scandal: Israeli Opposition
Slams Netanyahu's Submarine Deal With Germany
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under increasing pressure amid his decision to tie up an expensive arms deal with German defense enterprises without consent of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported.
In particular, Netanyahu is being accused of pushing the expensive submarine deal despite the opposition of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
"I was strictly against the purchase of three more submarines," Defense Minister Mosche Jaalon wrote on his Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Israel has already received five German submarines, "partly financed by German taxpayers," the newspaper wrote.
The purchase price for Dolphin-class submarines is about 600 million euro.
Update (Oct. 21): German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government
approved a deal to sell the Israeli Navy three submarines costing up to $1 billion each, overcoming reservations about dealing with Israeli officials closely connected to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges.
"The Germans have given their approval to the deal," an Israeli official told Agence France-Presse Friday.
Multiple clauses within the final contract sweetened the deal for Germany. Notably, they allow Germany to back out of the deal in the event that Israel's attorney general charges the prime minister or his closest aides for criminal wrongdoing, Jerusalem Online reports, citing local media.
See also:
German submarine scandal: Israel PM Netanyahu in hot water as lawyer faces conflict of interest probe
The submarines' main goal is to provide the country with intelligence capabilities that no other kind of weapon can offer.
Like internet backbone access?