Following Entry Posted 8/23/2006 05:00:00 AM

Two New Submarines for Israel

Israel is set to have two new diesel-electric, known as Dolphin-class, submarines in its Navy to add to the three already in operation.

From JPost.com:

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.

The submarines will be manufactured by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG and cost $1.27 billion. They will carry a crew of 35 and have a range of 4,500 kilometers. The deal was approved several months ago by the German government under new Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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