Israel's announcement that it plans to buy three new (and larger) submarines will maintain its desired level of six submarines.
See more details in this article https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-seeking-three-submarines-germany-report-094813311.html .
COMMENT
To maintain Israel's fleet of 6 submarines Israel will introduce one (possibly 3,000 tonne) Dolphin III when retiring each of its aging-by-then Dolphin Is. The TKMS Dolphin Is were commissioned in 1999 (or later), non-AIP and derived from TKMS Type 209s. Note - to maintain the six submarine fleet Israel also has three Type 214 derived Dolphin IIs (with AIP). See curret Dolphin numbers here.
The most important mission of Israel's Dolphin submarine fleet is as nuclear armed second strike platforms. Iran is on top of the hit list.
The first of the three new submarines is due to be bought by, or delivered to, Israel in 2027. If larger they could be of the 3,000 tonne class that TKMS is designing with South Korea. Israel's current larger subs (the Dolphin IIs) are just 2,000 tonnes (surfaced).
At a very low "combined price of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) [for the three Dolphin IIIs]" it appears Germany is continuing the tradition of heavily subsidizing submarine sales to Israel. This is a German post Holocaust "reparations" policy.
A 3,000 tonne sub could:
- have greater range/endurance time on station
- longer time totally submerged
- accommodate more crew to minimise exhaustion and
- can accomodate larger/longer range/heavier warhead missiles (fired vertically or horizontally).
Pete