Tom Sweetnam
Platinum Member
Thereās a dark irony in a photo of four Israeli defense officials, two of them Israeli Navy officers, standing on the deck of a submarine in Kiel, Germany. Itās a Dolphin-class diesel submarine, the most sophisticated of its type in the world. Itās christened the āINF Rahavā, and it represents the most expensive defence platform in Israelās history: $2 billion.
The Rahav is the fifth German-built Dolphin-class submarine delivered to Israel. There will be a sixth. All are equipped with special aft launch tubes that accommodate Israelās long range āPopeyeā nuclear cruise missile. The Dolphin-class fleet gives Israel the capability to strike any target in the world, though Iran was their major motivation in acquiring the boats...with Pakistan a secondary consideration. The subs are capable of lurking for extended periods underwater and just offshore of belligerents like Iran.
The whole project was supposed to be top secret until an LA Times investigative reporter broke the story after delivery of the second sub to Israel. It violated nuclear non-proliferation treaties Israel had signed onto. National survival meant more to Israel than keeping Western lefties feeling cosy in their beds at night. For Germany, it was something they had to do. It was a matter of national conscience. Oh, and keep this under your hats will you? The Dolphin's nuclear weapon delivery capability is still supposed to be a secret.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-unv ... submarine/
The Rahav is the fifth German-built Dolphin-class submarine delivered to Israel. There will be a sixth. All are equipped with special aft launch tubes that accommodate Israelās long range āPopeyeā nuclear cruise missile. The Dolphin-class fleet gives Israel the capability to strike any target in the world, though Iran was their major motivation in acquiring the boats...with Pakistan a secondary consideration. The subs are capable of lurking for extended periods underwater and just offshore of belligerents like Iran.
The whole project was supposed to be top secret until an LA Times investigative reporter broke the story after delivery of the second sub to Israel. It violated nuclear non-proliferation treaties Israel had signed onto. National survival meant more to Israel than keeping Western lefties feeling cosy in their beds at night. For Germany, it was something they had to do. It was a matter of national conscience. Oh, and keep this under your hats will you? The Dolphin's nuclear weapon delivery capability is still supposed to be a secret.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-unv ... submarine/