Posted on 08/22/2006 8:13:21 PM PDT by george76
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 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...
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...
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
As long as Olmert is in power, I'm not sure it makes much difference WHAT weapons Israel has.
Yeah, but I like the redundancy.
I know some, but not much about this Iranian Aug. 22.
Maybe Jeff can be of some help ?
We (and the rest of the West) should be arming Israel to the teeth over the next six months. The storm cometh...
Israel needs to get rid of Olmert.
Maybe he was a good lawyer; he should go back to whatever he was good at.
An army chief needs to be in command.
IMO.
"a third of which will be financed by the German government."
I'd ask why, but it'd be pointless. If the Germans want to feel perpetually guilty, that's their problem (unless I'm assuming too much and the Germans are paying because of outstanding debts to Israel or something).
This is in keeping with their "Samson" strategy. Even if Israel suffered a first strike that took out all their nuclear missiles and nuclear armed aircraft,they will retain the power to devastate the enemy with sea launched nuclear missiles.
There was an earlier thread about the possibility of Germany sending some naval security personnel to Lebanon as part of a peace-keeping force. I joked that unless I wanted a fleet of U-Boats, I wouldn't ask the German navy for help.
Well, it looks like they really did want U-Boats...
By the time they take delivery; he won't be. And judging from the general populations response to his piss poor handling of the Hezzie/Lebanon war; no one like him will be in office for quite some time.
Olmert screwed the pooch, not just for himslef, but for his party.
Perhaps he was a blessing for Israel in disguise.
It is not just Hitler, but also Saddam using WWII German type missles against Israel in the first Gulf War . So there is that quilt thing.
Germany may also want to support this democracy.
We also give lots of money and free stuff to Israel, too.
Well said.
Thanks.
'...keeping with their "Samson" strategy.'
Just checkin in.
I hope that you and yours are well.
I don't think so.
Israel Has Sub-based Atomic Arms Capability.
Wish they had nukes on board that ship.
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the Dolphin class "will, according to foreign reports, provide superior second-strike nuclear capabilities..."
Amazing how reality gets in the way of doomsday conspiracy theories.
Who says they don't?
Israel has never...hehehehe....acknowledged or denied having nukes. *wink wink, nudge nudge*
And Clinton never had sex with that woman in his life.
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