Submarine Proliferation

Israel Current Capabilities

Capabilities | Import | Export

Based at Haifa, the Israeli Navy (IN) currently operates three modern, diesel-electric, Dolphin-class submarines. The IN is reportedly interested in acquiring at least two more units. In December 2003, two of Israel's three decommissioned Gal-class submarines arrived in Kiel for refits and modernization at Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft. They are to be reactivated for the IN.[1]

As previous conflicts involving Israel began with naval blockades, Israel's submarine force is viewed as critical to national security. It is intended to exercise sea control over the Eastern Mediterranean and secure sea lines of communication; Israel is dependent on imports of grain, crude oil, and raw materials.[2,3]

Given Arab-Israeli tensions, and the alleged development of WMD capacities by some of its neighbors, Israel increasingly has been devoting funding toward countering these threats.[3] Acknowledging Israel's lack of strategic depth, its officials have pointed out that only submarines can provide a secure weapons platform in the future.[2] While HDW has stated that Israel's Dolphin-class submarines were equipped with weapon systems similar to those installed on other diesel-electric submarines,[4] various sources have reported that upon their arrival in Israel, the submarines were modified, and fitted with cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads.[5]

Some reports suggest that Israel has adapted Harpoon cruise missiles, which have a range of 130 kilometers, to carry an indigenously developed nuclear warhead and guidance system, though other experts argue that such modifications to a Harpoon missile are not feasible.[6] Others believe that Israel has developed an indigenous cruise missile with a range of 320 kilometers that is believed to be a version of Rafael Armament Development Authority’s Popeye turbo cruise missile.[7] Still others believe that the missile may be a version of the Gabriel 4LR that is produced by Israel Aircraft Industries. Once encapsulated, it could be launched in 533mm torpedo tubes similar to the Harpoon.[8] Such speculation was further fueled by an unconfirmed test of a nuclear-capable, submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) in the Indian Ocean in 2000. Some reports claimed targets 1,500 kilometers away were hit.[7,9] Such a range, however, implies an entirely new type of missile.[7,8,10] However, the Israeli Defense Forces denies any such missile tests.[7,11]

In June 2002, former State Department and Pentagon officials confirmed that the U.S. Navy observed Israeli missile tests in the Indian Ocean in 2000, and that the Dolphin-class vessels have been fitted with nuclear-capable cruise missiles of a new design.[8] Israel issued new denials, albeit in an indirect manner.[9] In October 2003, unidentified senior U.S. and Israeli officials were quoted as saying that Israel had successfully modified nuclear warheads to fit its Harpoon missiles.[12]

Whatever the missile currently arming Israel's Dolphin-class submarines, it seems clear that Israel is interested in the acquisition of new cruise missiles. Its request for U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles was rejected by the Clinton administration in 2000, since such a sale would have violated the Missile Technology Control Regime, which prohibits the transfer of missiles with a range exceeding 300 kilometers.[5] However, it is likely only a matter of time before Israel is capable of mounting nuclear weapons on its submarine-launched missiles, if it has not done so already.

Therefore, it is no surprise that the arming of Israel's submarines has received a great deal of attention. The Dolphin-class was designed in accordance with Israeli demands, and includes a "wet and dry" compartment for special operations as well as four 650mm torpedo tubes, which could be used for Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs).[13] However, the German Defense Ministry has stated that these larger tubes were intended to fire Harpoons. Upon delivery to Israel, liners were to be fitted to decrease the diameter of the tubes to accommodate the 533mm Harpoon containers. However, the Dolphin-class is equipped with six 533mm torpedo tubes as well, which are capable of launching Harpoons.[14] It seems possible, therefore, that the 650mm tubes might have been designed to accommodate indigenously built, long-range SLCMs. The German government has acknowledged that it could not rule out different equipment being installed on the submarines.[15]

The IN has long been interested in acquiring at least two additional submarines, ideally of the same type.[16] In November 2005, outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder approved the sale of two Dolphin-class submarines to Israel for a total of €1 billion ($1.17 billion USD).[18] Berlin is ready to provide up to €333 million in funding from the German federal budget. The new boats will be equipped with 650mm torpedo tubes—again leading to much speculation that the Israelis intend to outfit the submarines with nuclear-armed cruise missiles.[19] For more information on Israeli submarine imports, see the Israel: Import Behavior file.

Before obtaining the Dolphins, the IN depended upon three Gal-class submarines, designed by Germany for Israel, and constructed at the Vickers Shipyard in the United Kingdom in 1973-77. The Gal-class is a modified Type 206A coastal submarine. The Gals were decommissioned when the Dolphins were commissioned into the IN, and Israel had planned to sell the vessels. However, Israel eventually decided not to sell the submarines; instead, it will recommission them after they have been modernized by HDW.[7]

Dolphin

Displacement, metric tons:	1,640 surfaced 1,900 submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	188 × 22.3 × 20.3 (57.3 × 6.8 × 6.2)
Main machinery:	diesel-electric
Speed, knots:	11 snorting 20 submerged
Complement:	30 (including 6 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m):	1,150 (350)
Endurance:	30 days
Weapons:	5 SSM/SLCMs and 16 torpedoes; four 25.6" (650mm) and six 21" (533mm) tubes; mines in lieu of torpedoes
Comments:

Sources:
"'Dolphin' class," Submarine and submersible designs, Jane’s Underwater Warfare Systems online edition, http://juws.janes.com, August 21, 2003.
Israeli Defense Forces Web Site, http://www.idf.il/navy/html/galery/galery3.htm.

Gal (Type 540)

Displacement, metric tons:	420 surfaced 600 submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	(45 × 4.7 × 3.7)
Main machinery:	diesel-electric
Speed, knots:	11 surfaced 17 submerged
Complement:	22
Range, miles:	2,500 at 6 knots 1,800 at 11 knots
Endurance:	80% discharge at 3.5 knots: 30 hours
Weapons:	10 SSMs and torpedoes; eight 21" (533mm) tubes
Comments:	Currently decommissioned, two are undergoing modernization at HDW, to be recommissioned in future

Sources:
A.D. Baker III, "World's Navies Are in Decline," US Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 130, No. 3 (March 2004), p. 32; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
"Gal," Israeli-Weapons.com Website, http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/naval/gal/Gal.html.
"Gallery," Israeli Defense Forces Website, http://www.idf.il/navy/html/galery/galery2.htm.
"Table V," and "Table VI," and "Table VII," Submarines and submersible designs, Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems 2003-2004 (Coulsdon, Jane's Information Group, 2003), pp. 58-64.

ACTIVE-DUTY SUBMARINES
Name (Number)	Class	Base	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
Dolphin	Dolphin	Haifa	HDW,TNSW	1994	1996	1999
Leviathan	Dolphin	Haifa	HDW,TNSW	1995	1997	1999
Tekuma	Dolphin	Haifa	HDW,TNSW	1996	1998	2000
Sources: "'Dolphin' class," Submarine and submersible designs, Jane’s Underwater Warfare Systems online edition, http://juws.janes.com, August 21, 2003.

Sources:
[1] A.D. Baker III, "World's Navies Are in Decline," US Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 130, No. 3 (March 2004), p. 32; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[2] Interview with Israel Navy Commander Major General Alex Tal by Alex Fishman, "If Israel wants to hide anything--it will be at sea," Yedi'ot Aharonot, 31 December 1999; in "Israel: outgoing Navy Chief on subs, Syria, Mediterranean," FBIS Document TA0201154800.
[3] David Rodman, "Israel's national security doctrine: an introductory overview," Middle East Review of International Affairs, September 2001; in "Academic views evolution of Israel's national security doctrine," FBIS Document GMP20011009000010.
[4] Douglas Frantz, "Israel Extends Nuclear Weapons Capability," Los Angeles Times, October 11, 2003; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[5] "Popeye Turbo," www.israeli.weapons.com.
[6] Michael Nitz, "First Dolphins move in on Israeli Navy," International Defense Review, Vol. 32, No. 9, September 1, 1999.
[7] Ed Blanche, "Israel denies sub-launched missile tests," Jane’s Missile and Rockets, August 1, 2000.
[8] "Gabriel," Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, August 28, 2003.
[9] Uzi Mahnaimi and Matthew Campbell, "Israel Makes Nuclear Waves with Submarine Missile Test," Sunday Times, June 18, 2000; in "UK weekly details Israel's secret cruise missile test," FBIS Document EUP20000618000010.
[10] Norman Friedman, "Israelis test sub-launched cruise missile," United States Naval Institute Proceedings, August 2000, Vol. 126, No. 2, pp. 6-7; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[11] Dani Shalom, "IDF denies testing cruise missile launch from submarine," Hatzofe, June 19, 2000; in "IDF spokesman - Sunday Times' cruise missile launch report 'totally unfounded'," FBIS Document GMP20000619000070.
[12] Douglas Frantz, "Israel adds fuel to nuclear dispute," Los Angeles Times, October 12, 2003.
[13] Interview with Israel Navy Commander Major General Alex Tal by Alex Fishman, "If Israel wants to hide anything--it will be at sea," Yedi'ot Aharonot, December 31, 1999; in "Israel: outgoing Navy Chief on subs, Syria, Mediterranean," FBIS Document TA0201154800.
[14] Hubert Wetzel, "Delfin mit übergrossem Kanonenrohr," Süddeutsche Zeitung, September 1, 1999; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[15] "Nuclear armament with German help," Der Spiegel, October 30, 2000; in "Germany proves 'massive support' to Israel's nuclear weapons program," FBIS Document EUP20001030000465.
[16] Amos Harel, "Navy eyes 2 new Dolphin submarines," Ha'aretz, February 19, 2003; in "Israeli Navy hoping US, Germany to fund purchase of another 2 Dolphin submarines," FBIS Document GMP20030219000084.
[17] A.D. Baker III, "World's Navies Are in Decline," US Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 130, No. 3 (March 2004), p. 32; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[18] German Government Approves Sale of Submarines to Israel," Der Spiegel, November 20, 2005; in FBIS Document EUP20051120014001.
[19] Hinnerk Berlekamp, "U-Boote Atomwaffenträger für Israel?" Berliner Zeitung, January 30, 2006; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.