| Izraeli officials in Germany to take delivery of fourth submarine |
Fourth German Dolphin submarine expected to be delivered soon to Israel • Navy commander and Defense Ministry officials meet with German counterparts • Submarine reportedly equipped with cruise missiles to be fitted with nuclear warheads.
Photo credit: Reuters
|
An Israeli Dolphin submarine parked in the Haifa port. [Archive]
|
Photo credit: Reuters
|
Israel Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ram Rothberg and senior Defense Ministry officials arrived in Germany on Wednesday in apparent preparation for delivery of Israel’s fourth Dolphin submarine.
German company Thyssen-Krupp Marine Systems has been under contract with Israel since 2005 to build Israel’s fourth and fifth submarines, according to Defense News. Germany agreed to underwrite a third of the cost of the two new vessels.
According to foreign media sources, the German Dolphin submarines are equipped with cruise missiles fitted with nuclear warheads, which give Israel a „second-strike” capability should the Jewish state be attacked with weapons of mass destruction.
A month and a half ago, Defense Minister Ehud Barak signed an agreement for a sixth submarine, one third of which is to be financed by the German government.
