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Why is Israel Buying 3 More Dolphin Submarines?

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An Anonymous has posed some interesting questions regarding Israel's Dolphin-class submarines

QUESTIONS

Here is a link to the Israel submarine scandal.  There have been criminal proceedings (indictment?) against ex PM Benjamin Netanyahu for issuing a 2017 requirement for 3 additional Dolphins (known as "Dakar-class, Dolphin 3s) in such a way as to benefit parties related to him. In fact, without this scandal, he would still be PM and the last 3 elections would not have happened. 


This would normally have little interest to you, except for the scandal being presented by some parties in Israel as there being no case for the additional submarines at all.  
 

Israel currently has 6 Dolphin subs, 3 of which have AIP.   


1.  In order to maintain a second strike deterrent capability against Iran and Russia(?), others(?) what is actually reasonable? 


Anon comments: "In my view, all you need is to sit off Haifa under an Israeli air superiority umbrella (and surface fleet).  If so, the additional submarines are at least premature." 

2.  Or is this the only mission?  

3.  I could see a benefit to Israel if it could operate additional submarines in the Indian ocean, which would perhaps justify 3 additional submarines, but how would that work? 

4.  Israeli subs at Israel's southern-"forward" Eilat naval base would have to pass Red Sea choke points, and patrol areas off Iran and/or Pakistan would be pretty distant.  Is it technically and/or politically possible for Israel to operate submarines in the Indian ocean? 

Anon comments "(I doubt it is in India or indeed any other nearby country's political interest to host an Israeli submarine base or depot ship.) " 



Map A. Israel's Naval Bases: From Haifa main base in the north to Eilat "forward" base in the south.
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Map B. Israel, via Suez Canal and Red Sea to Indian Ocean. Israeli subs can also take the long route Mediterranean then south around Africa, to Indian Ocean.
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PETE COMMENT

Regarding the Questions:

1. The first 3 Dolphin 1s have been in the water since the mid-late 1990s and after 30 years will be coming up for replacement. I'll give some other readers time to pose 2 more reasons + remember the Jerichos ;-) 

2. Reasons other than First and Second strike are that the Dolphins are the only subs Israel has so they have to fulfill all other SSK missions. In carrying out other missions the fact Dolphins may have immensely sensitive and expensive nuclear weapons on board could lead to some catastrophic use them or lose them scenarios.

3. and 4. Indian Ocean ops, especially after going around Africa, involve refueling problems. The USN, South Africa? and India? (confessions please :) may have secret understandings with Israel regarding refueling and perhaps some basic spare parts. 

Please connect with SubMatts' Israel's Dolphin Submarines, Naval Bases and SigInt Network of January 19, 2016. This was published Before the Israeli order for 3 x Dakar-class Dolphin 3s.


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