-Caveat Lector- w w w . h a a r e t z d a i l y . c o m http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=264394 &contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y
Navy eyes 2 new Dolphin submarines The Israel Navy is putting together a request to purchase two additional Dolphin-model submarines from Germany. In light of the high cost of the deal - some $850 million - Israel is looking for outside funding for the project. In 1999-2000, Germany supplied the Israel Navy with three Dolphin submarines to replace its outdated Gal models. The new submarines were constructed over a number of years at shipyards in Germany, in accordance with specific plans formulated in conjunction with the Israel Navy. In the wake of the 1991 Gulf War, Germany agreed to fund most of the project and the submarines were, in practice, supplied to Israel as a gift from Germany. The Israel Defense Forces now believes the three submarines aren't enough. To maintain an effective submarine force (under the assumption that the vessels require relatively frequent maintenance and servicing), the Israel Navy needs at least five submarines, IDF sources say. The issue of the new submarines has come up in talks between Israel and Germany. In preparation for the deal, the navy is conducting studies to determine the operational requirements of the new vessels. The navy believes it would be best to order submarines of the same model. Constructing a new model would require lengthy development processes and cause a long delay in the supply of the vessels. In addition, a new model submarine would require changing the training of the crews. It will take four to five years to construct the new submarines, so the navy can expect to get the new vessels no sooner than 2008. Meanwhile, the navy has yet to receive a price quote for the project from the German shipyards. IDF and German Army officers are slated to meet in the near future, with the submarine deal likely to be on the agenda. Israel is very pleased with the previous Dolphin deal and has praised Germany's handling of the operational demands the IDF posed for the project. Nevertheless, the IDF knows the cost of the new project (more than $400 million per submarine) is simply too high for the current defense budget, which is already facing cuts. Therefore, the plans in the works are "on paper" only. Finding a budget for the project would presumably entail a special aid request - either from the United States or from Germany. In recent years, the commander-in-chief of the Israel Navy, Major General Yedidia Ya'ari, has been promoting the idea of turning the corps into one of the IDF's strategic arms, with the ability to carry out essential tasks in the face of threats to Israel from afar. Such a move would require significant budget increases. Ya'ari's efforts have the support in principle of Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon and other senior members of the General Staff. If the acquisition of the additional submarines is approved, it will be a significant step in the direction sought by the navy's commander-in-chief. 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