Israel Has Sub-Based Atomic Arms Capability

The Washington Post ^ | June 15, 2002 | Walter Pincus

[Timesink]

Israel has acquired three diesel submarines that it is arming with newly designed cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, according to former Pentagon and State Department officials, potentially giving Israel a triad of land-, sea- and air-based nuclear weapons for the first time.

The possible move to arm submarines with nuclear weapons suggests that the Israeli government might be increasingly concerned about efforts by Iraq and Iran to develop more accurate long-range missiles capable of knocking out Israel's existing nuclear arsenal, which is primarily land-based.

[Mo1]

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[VOA]

Good if they ever destroy Israel the Arabs will be annilatted in Israel's death
throes by sub based nuclear strikes.

"Go ahead, drive us into the sea. You will regret it, if you survive."
Works for me as a defense policy.

(As long as the Israelis aren't tempted to start selling copies to other parties...)

[LarryLied]

In all fairness to the state of Israel,a lot of there dealings are at the behest of the US,kind of like a preferred contractor status.

True enough. But there are *wink*wink* free lancers operating too. And sometimes the government just can't resist the money. Our Sidewinder became the Israeli Python 3 which made its way to China and then to Iraq. We gave Israel $1.4 billion to develop the Lavi Fighter (based on our F-16) and then Israeli Lavi engineers ended up in China building their J-10. Bottom line is that Israel doesn't gave a damn about US security.

[LarryLied]

(As long as the Israelis aren't tempted to start selling copies to other parties...)

Their track record is that they do. There is always a schuck and jive and charges of antisemitism (see above) when anyone expresses concern about it too. AIPAC starts screaming and congressmen are threatened.

The least Israel could do is not arm Mugabe for crying out loud. That they are willing to take the heat for chump change from Mugabe shows that when big money is waved at them, they will surely jump at it.

[Bobby777]

Israel Has Sub-Based Atomic Arms Capability

this is old news ... I've had a picture of the German Dolphin-class submarine on my website for 3 or 4 years since they (3) were being acquired by Israel ...

why does the State Department and the Military release this now, as if it's "breaking news"? ... odd ...

[rdb3]

Works for me as a defense policy.

I believe this is called "The Sampson Option."

[Bobby777]

actually "the Sampson Option" is where Israel pulls down its Jericho missiles (land-based) and nuclear dumb bombs on top of itself in case it's overrun ... these subs are for taking the strike to Iran or Iraq ... or a couple others in the neighborhood ... without having to announce the strike first, by the detected inbound aircraft ... usually a cruise missile from a submarine has a shorter flight time than an SRBM/MRBM or an aircraft ... in the case of a Russian Typhoon launched at Washington, D.C., you've got as little as two minutes from just outside the "12-mile" limit ...

[Aaron_A]

The ChiComs are damn good when it comes to getting weapons from around the world. Apart from the Israeli stuff, they have gotten a whole whack from us directly. They got Aspides from Italy (Aspide is a re-packaged Sparrow), the Searchwater radar from Britain, good looks at F-16s and other stuff from Pakistan and lots more from the EU. And then there are the Russkies...you name it, and its likely on sale and Walmart's supplier has plenty of cash to spare. China is developing a line of long range cruise missiles based on the Russian Kh-55 which in itself is in the same league as the Tommahawk. They currently have some sub based ballistic missile capability and their upcoming road mobile ballistic missiles will have good coverage of America.

These will be interesting times.

[Aleksandar Vojvoda]

Bottom line is that Israel doesn't gave a damn about US security.

I both agree,and disagree with you,depending on the example.Some are of the opinion that we knowingly transferred technology to the USSR to keep our Defense Industry going.During the Iran-Contra affair,it is documented that F-4 parts were transferred from Israel to Iran(most likely with our OK).The only thing that makes me uncomfortable are Israeli agents such as Netanyahu coming over here immediately post 9/11 and calling for a war against Iraq and Iran,among others.These two had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11 and it was a damn disgrace for him and other prominent Israeli's to come here and do this.Very poor protocol and manners.

[LarryLied]

I hear Bibi had to restrain his glee last September. Oh well, Churchill felt the same way on December 7th.

[klpt]