Posted on 12/15/2008 2:32:12 PM PST by maquiladora
IslamabadAuthoritative sources have reported that unidentified submarine was sighted in the Arabian Sea several kilometres away from Balochistan coast and sources claimed that submarine in question was most probably from Israel.
Several foreign states are already massing naval forces in the area but the presence of Israeli submarines was seen as a joint Indo-Israeli strategy to increase pressure on Pakistan. It was though not clear if Israeli sub was on its way to Indian Ocean or on surveillance exploration in the area.
Defence experts say that Israeli Navy has recently fitted its Dolphin class submarine with hi-tech gadgets to enhance surveillance. The Israeli submarine can carry a team of special operation forces and travels at maximum speeds of 20 knots with a cruising range of 4,500 nautical miles. The vessel is also equipped with 10 torpedo tubes and is capable of launching Harpoon missiles,
According to regional defence experts Israeli submarine is believed to be armed with two types of cruise missiles the Popeye Turbo, with a range of 200 kilometres, and the longer-range Delilah, which reportedly can hit targets up to 400 kilometres.
At least;
GAME ON!
Take the report with a huge pinch of salt. All the Dolphins are Med based. They couldn’t get the sub through the Suez without it being spotted. Something that the Egyptians and the Saudis would take great interest in if they based them at Eilat.
The Dolphins have short range. They would have to be supported by a tender or piggy backed into the area.
The last fantasy story about Israeli subs was when they were meant to have been launching Popeye Turbos in the Bay of Bengal.
My guess is its a false sighting or just a rumor.
The only reason I can think of for an Israeli boat to be there is to launch cruise missiles to take out some stationary radars in Iran just prior to a large air strike.
Delilah is a smart weapon made by IMI. Very impressive and better than anything similar in current US inventory. It saw tactical use in the last Lebanon incursion.
http://www.imi-israel.com/division.aspx?FolderID=78
Normally I would send people to Israeli-weapons.com but their launched weapons link is 404. The wikipedia entry for the Deliah is sorely out of date
Wonder what's up...if anything?
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