 INSRahav, aDolphin-II submarine, seen here during itssea trials atWilhelmshaven,Germany in July 2014. | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) |
| Operators |  Israeli Navy |
| Preceded by | Gal class |
| Succeeded by | Dakar class |
| Completed | |
| Active | 5 (another 1fitting-out)[1][2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Diesel-electricsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 6.8 m (22 ft) |
| Draught | 6.2 m (20 ft) |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric, 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,243 shp (3,164 kW);Dolphin 2 class: air-independent HDW Fuel Cell System[4] |
| Speed |
|
| Test depth | At least 350 m (1,150 ft) |
| Complement | 35 + 10 additional |
| Sensors & processing systems | STN Atlas ISUS 90-55 combat system |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | The first three, non-AIP submarines of the class (Dolphin-I) are set to be replaced by the newDakar-class submarines, beginning from 2027.[5] |
TheDolphin class (Hebrew:הצוללות מסדרת דולפין) is adiesel-electric submarine developed in Israel[6] and constructed byHowaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) inKiel,Germany, for theIsraeli Navy'sShayetet 7 flotilla.[7] The first boats of the class were based on the export-only German209-class submarines, but modified and enlarged. TheDolphin 1 sub-class is slightly larger than theGerman NavyType 212 in length and displacement. The three newerair-independent propulsion (AIP) equipped boats are similar to the Type 212 vessels in underwater endurance, but are 12 metres (39 ft) longer, nearly 500tonnes heavier in submerged displacement and have a larger crew than either the Type 212 or theType 214.
TheDolphin 2 class submarines are the largest to have been built in Germany since World War II and the most expensive single vehicles in theIsrael Defense Forces.[3][8] TheDolphin class replaced the agingGal class, which had served in the Israeli navy since the late 1970s. EachDolphin-class submarine is capable of carrying a combined total of up to 16torpedoes andPopeye Turbo submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs).[9] The cruise missiles have a range of at least 1,500 km (930 mi)[10] and are widely believed[11][12] to be equipped with a 200 kilotonnuclear warhead containing up to 6 kilograms (13 lb) ofplutonium.[13][14] The latter, if true, would provide Israel with an offshorenuclear second-strike capability.[15][16][17][18]
The first batch of the class – the threeDolphin-I submarines – are set to be replaced by the newerDakar-class submarines from 2031 onwards.[19]
First budgeted in July 1989 and ordered in January 1990, by November the order for the submarines was cancelled. This was due to budget reallocation aimed at countering Iraqi threats made against Israel following the Iraqi invasion and annexation of neighboring Kuwait during the leadup to the1991 Gulf War. Funding for the first two boats (Dolphin andLeviathan) was fully subsidized by theGerman government to restart the construction program and the third (Tekumah) received a 50% subsidy. During theFirst Gulf War, it was revealed that German firms had assisted Iraq with modernizing its ballistic missile and chemical weapon programs, thanks in part to lax enforcement byGerman customs, in violation of theMissile Technology Control Regime protocols which West Germany had acceded to in 1987.[20] These enhanced missiles brought Israeli cities into Iraqi targeting range for the first time, and the Iraqi weapons research program included factories and necessary supplies for the creation of weaponizedmustard andnerve gas.[21][22] Though not a belligerent in the Gulf War, Israeli cities were nevertheless bombarded by these upgraded Iraqi missiles.[23][24] To compensate Israel for war-related damage and economic losses[22][25] and keep German shipyards occupied with a high profile project in the post Cold War defense spending downturn,[26][27] thenChancellor of GermanyHelmut Kohl approved an assistance package to German industry including the construction of twoDolphin-class submarines.[28][29]
The namesDolphin andLeviathan hail from the retired Israeli WWII-era submarines of theBritish T class; the third boatTekuma (translation: Revival) commemoratesDakar, the third Israeli boat of the T class which was lost in 1968 with all Israeli crew in the Mediterranean Sea during delivery. The names of the newer boatsTanin andRahav are taken from retiredGal-class submarines, which were themselves named after even older IsraeliS-class submarines.[30]
In 2006 Israel signed a contract withThyssenKrupp to purchase two additional submarines from its HDW subsidiary.[28] The two new boats are an upgraded version displacing 28% heavier than the olderDolphins, featuring anair-independent propulsion system, similar to the one used on GermanType 212 submarines.[28] On 6 July 2006, theGovernment of Germany decided to finance an advance to start the construction, about €170 million, planned for delivery in 2012.[31] The two submarines cost, overall, around €1.3 billion, of up to one-third was subsidized by Germany.[25] In 2010, both Israel and Germany denied having talks regarding the potential purchase of a sixth submarine.[32] Yet in 2011, Israel ordered a sixthDolphin-class submarine, for which it was reported to pay the unsubsidized cost of US$1 billion.[33] However, in July 2011, during a meeting betweenGerman Defense MinisterThomas de Maizière andIsraeli Prime MinisterBinyamin Netanyahu andDefense ministerEhud Barak, an agreement was reached to subsidize €135 million of the US$500–700 million cost of the sixth submarine.[34][35]
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In 2016, it was revealed that a new sonar developed byRafael Advanced Defense Systems had begun to be fitted on allDolphin submarines in the last two years. The new capabilities provided to theDolphin submarines by the Israeli sonar also include detection of vessels with a low noise signature. The algorithms used in the sonar systems enable it to ignore many of the noises that can disrupt the range of the systems' activity, while detecting very distant noises.[36]
In late 2016 reports emerged of negotiations for the purchase of three additional ThyssenKrupp built submarines.[37] The former Defense MinisterMoshe Ya’alon, who opposed the acquisition during his tenure, called for the Attorney GeneralAvichai Mandelblit to investigate the negotiations which included Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu's personal attorney David Shimron for work while on retainer to the offices of Miki Ganor which represents ThyssenKrupp in Israel.[38][39] On 23 November 2016 Mandelblit decided to ask the state prosecutor to move forward with an investigation into the case.[40] In July 2021 with the newly formed government in power and the Netanyahu-led government out of power MK Gantz the new Defense Minister as well as MK Sa'ar began an official process into initiating a state investigation into the case 3000 submarine procurement case saying "An official inquiry committee that will investigate all aspects of the affair is the need of the hour".[41] However, the government's submarine procurement investigation was delayed as the ThyssenKrupp negotiations for the purchase of new submarines with additional capabilities was ongoing and likely to cost €2.4B.[42]
In October 2017, Israel and Germany confirmed that they finalised amemorandum of understanding covering the Israeli Navy's purchase of three moreDolphin-class submarines to be delivered starting in 2027.[43] The deal was formally signed in January 2022 with the then envisaged delivery of the first boat occurring within nine years.[44] These boats would replace the first three of the class which by then would be about 30 years old. Germany would provide industrial subsidies to German companies building and outfitting the submarines covering a third of purchase costs.[45]
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Each submarine is fitted with 6 × 533 mm (21.0 in)torpedo tubes, and 4 × 650 mm (26 in) torpedo tubes.[9] The very large 650 mm tubes can be used for layingmines, largersubmarine-launched cruise missiles, orswimmer delivery vehicles, and with liners the tubes could be used for standard torpedoes and submarine-launched missiles.[46] The boats were first armed withAtlas ElektronikDM2A3 torpedoes using wire-guided active homing to deliver a 260 kg (570 lb) warhead at a maximum speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) to a target over 13 km (8.1 mi) away, in passive homing mode a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) and a range up to 28 km (17 mi) is possible. Israel has also procured the more advancedDM2A4 torpedo, successor to their DM2A3s, which are electrically propelled, equipped with fiber optic communications and has countermeasure resistant signals processing and mission logic.[47] Awet and dry compartment is installed for deploying underwater special operations teams.[9][48][49]
Jane's Defence Weekly reported that theDolphin-class submarines are believed to benuclear armed, offering Israel a sea-based,second strike capability.[17][18] In adherence toMissile Technology Control Regime rules[46] the US Clinton administration rejected an Israeli request in 2000 to purchaseTomahawk long range SLCMs. The U.S. Navy has deployed nuclear armed and conventional Tomahawk missiles for its submarine fleet which are launched from standard heavy 533 mm torpedo tubes.[50] TheFederation of American Scientists andGlobalSecurity.org reported that the four larger torpedo tubes are capable of launching Israeli built nuclear-armedPopeye Turbocruise missiles (a variant of thePopeye standoff missile), and the U.S. Navy recorded an Israeli submarine-launched cruise missile test in the Indian Ocean ranging 1,500 km (930 mi).[9][13][51]
TheDolphin class uses the ISUS 90-1 TCS weapon control system supplied by STNAtlas Elektronik, for automatic sensor management, fire control, navigation, and operations. The installed radar warning receiver is a 4CH(V)2 Timnex electronic support measures system, scanning from 5 GHz to 20 GHz frequency bands and able to pinpoint radar sites with accuracy between 5 and 10 degrees of angle (depending on frequency).[52] The surface search radar is anElta unit operating onI band. The sonar suite includes the advanced Atlas Elektronik CSU 90 hull-mounted passive and active search and attack sonar. The PRS-3 passive ranging sonar is also supplied by Atlas Elektronik, the flank array is a FAS-3 passive search sonar. A notable design feature is the prismatic hull cross-section and smoothly faired transitions from the hull to the sail, improving the boat's stealth characteristics. The ship and internal features are constructed of nonmagnetic materials, significantly reducing the chances of it being detected by magnetometers or setting off magnetic naval mines. The submarines have two Kollmorgen periscopes.[9] TheDolphins can mount an external special forces hangar aft of their sail.[53]
TheDolphins are equipped with three V-16 396 SE 84 diesel engines[54] built byMTU Friedrichshafen (now Rolls-Royce Power Systems), developing 3.12 MW (4,180 hp) sustained power. The submarines are equipped with three Siemens 750 kW alternators, and a Siemens 2.85 MW sustained-power motor driving a single shaft. The propulsion system provides a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) submerged and a snorkeling speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). The hull is rated for dives up to 350 m (1,150 ft). The maximum unrefuelled range is 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) traveling on the surface at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) and over 400 nautical miles (740 km; 460 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged; they are designed to remain unsupplied for up to 30 days on station.[9]
According to news reports the submarines are normally based in the Mediterranean,[55] although oneDolphin class was sent to theRed Sea for exercises, briefly docking at the naval base ofEilat in June 2009, which Israeli media interpreted as a warning to Iran.[56] In 2009 the Israeli newspaperHaaretz, quoting an Israeli defence official, reported that the very small Eilat naval station is unsuited strategically to base theDolphin-class boats, specifically noting the tight entrance of theGulf of Aqaba at theStraits of Tiran as one held by potential adversaries includingSaudi Arabia on the east and the demilitarized Egyptian Sinai to the west. Eilat is a 10 km (6.2 mi) strip of coast between Egypt and Jordan. According to The London Sunday Times, the Israeli Navy decided in May 2010 to keep at least one submarine equipped with nuclear-tipped SLCM there permanently as a deterrent in response to rumored ballistic missiles moved from Syria to Lebanon.[18]
If the boats are based at the larger Haifa naval base, access to the Persian Gulf area either requires openly sailing on the surface through the Egyptian controlledSuez Canal as permitted in theEgypt–Israel peace treaty or a long voyage sailing around Africa. According to theConvention of Constantinople signed by the ruling great powers of the time including the UK, France, and the Ottoman Empire on March 2, 1888; "The Suez Maritime Canal shall always be free and open, in time of war as in time of peace, to every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag."[57] Denied crossing at the Suez Canal and blockade of the Straits of Tiran occurred in both in 1956 and 1967 leading to Israel twice seizing the Sinai to break the blockade.[58] TheEgypt–Israel peace treaty allows for the free passage of Israeli vessels through theSuez Canal, and recognizes theStrait of Tiran and theGulf of Aqaba as international waterways. Even if a Red Sea or Indian Ocean base is unavailable other nations have usedsubmarine tenders, ships that resupply, rearm, and refuel submarines at sea, when nearby friendly bases are unavailable.
According to two contradictory Sudanese media reports, in November or December 2011 two Israeli air raids againstGaza-bound weapon smugglers inSudan were accompanied by Israeli submarine activity off the Sudanese coast.[59][60] The Sudanese government claims no strikes took place.
In February 2012,Ynet, the online version of the Israeli newspaperYediot Achronot, reported that for security reasons applicants for the submarine service withdual citizenship or citizenship in addition to Israeli, which is common in Israel with a relatively high percentage ofolim (immigrants), must officiallyrenounce all other citizenships to be accepted into the training program.[61]
Israel National News andThe Jerusalem Post both had articles on Sunday, July 14, 2013, which quoted that day's LondonSunday Times saying that the July 5 Israeli missile strike against the Syrian port ofLatakia, previously reported by CNN as anIsrael Air Force strike, was made in coordination with the United States, and long range missiles were launched from aDolphin-class submarine. The attack targeted newly unloaded Russian-madeYakhont long range high performance anti-ship missiles and associated radars.[62][63][64]
In December, 2020, an IDF submarine transited the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, en route to the Persian Gulf in possible preparation for any Iranian retaliation over the November assassination of a senior Iranian nuclear scientist,Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.[65]
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Although unconfirmed by either the German or Israeli government, there was speculation that the Drakon would be longer than previous boats of its class and might have new weapon capabilities, including a vertical launch system (VLS).[66] Illustrations released by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the prime contractor, show it with an enlarged sail and distinctly changed hullform. TKMS went on to describe the Dakar as “a completely new design, which is to be specifically engineered to fulfill the operational requirements of the Israeli Navy.”[67]
The boat was reported to have been taken out of the water but re-launched again in August 2023. With the re-launch, photographs confirmed a much larger sail which might accommodate its vertical launch missile silos, if these fitted to the vessel.[68] According to analysis conducted by Matus Smutny, the sail "could also contain a special release compartment for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), aerial drones, and/or other special operations and intelligence-gathering equipment. The revised sail could also be related to some kind of proof-of-concept for technology to be used in the upcomingDakar class".[69]
| Dolphin-I | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefix | Ship name | Builder in Germany | Keel laying | Launched | Commissioned | Status | |||
| INS | Dolphin | Nordseewerke Emden | February 1992 | April 1996 | 29 May 1999 | Active | |||
| INS | Leviathan | Nordseewerke Emden | 1993? | April 1997 | 29 June 1999 | Active | |||
| INS | Tekumah | Nordseewerke Emden | 1994? | July 1998 | 25 July 2000 | Active | |||
| Dolphin-II | |||||||||
| INS | Tanin | HDW,Kiel | 2007 | May 2012 | 30 June 2014[70] | Active | |||
| INS | Rahav | HDW,Kiel | 2008 | April 2013 | 13 January 2016[71] | Active | |||
| INS | Drakon[72] | HDW,Kiel | 2012 | August 2023 | Expected in 2025[73][74][75][76][77] | Tests | |||
Dolphin-I
Dolphin-II[7]
Submarines of similar comparison
Other references to the Israeli Navy
