Israel Submarine Capabilities

Based at Haifa, the Israeli Navy (IN) currently operates five modern diesel-electric Dolphin-class submarines. All were designed and constructed by Germany’s Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).¹

Total Submarines in Fleet: 5

• Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs): 0
• Nuclear-Powered attack submarines (SSNs): 0
• Diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs): 5
• Air-independent propulsion (AIP) enabled: 2/5 (INS Tanin and INS Rahav)

Submarines

Israel first acquired two British S-class submarines in the late 1950s. Israel utilized these submarines in its wars with Lebanon from 1967 to the 1980s, but the vessels were noisy and barely fit in the Mediterranean Sea. After the S-class, the Israeli Navy depended upon three Gal-class submarines, designed by Germany for Israel, and constructed at the Vickers Shipyard in the United Kingdom between 1973 and 1977. The Gal-class vessels were a modified Type 206A coastal submarine.²

Between 1999 and 2000, Israel commissioned three Dolphin class submarines from German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).³ Germany donated two of these vessels but split the cost of the third with Israel. The fourth and fifth submarines, agreed to in 2006, are advanced Dolphin-class vessels equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP). The INS Tanin was commissioned in September 2014 and the INS Rahav was commissioned in 2016.⁴

There is consistent speculation that Israel’s submarines have been refitted to carry missiles armed with nuclear weapons for the country to maintain a survivable second-strike option.⁵ The German government has refused to comment on modifying the Dolphin-class submarines delivered to Israel to fit cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads.⁶ However, German officials such as former Head of the Policy Planning Staff of the German Ministry of Defense Hans Rühle, have stated that they assumed Israel intended to equip the submarines with nuclear weapons.⁷

In June 2002, former U.S. 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 However, the Israeli Defense Forces have consistently denied any such missile tests.⁹ Experts disagree on whether Israel adapted Harpoon cruise missiles to carry an indigenously developed nuclear warhead or if it modified the Gabriel 4LR anti-ship missile.¹⁰

HDW was scheduled to deliver a sixth modern diesel-electric Dolphin-class submarine to Israel by 2020. The ship has been delivered and is now rumored to be undergoing sea trials.¹¹ This submarine, the INS Drakon, is said to be capable of carrying nuclear missiles, and be equipped with a VLS (vertical launch system).¹²¹³ The INS Drakon is said to be longer than the previous INS Dolphin models in order to accommodate the VLS. Moreover, in 2016 Israel and Germany signed an agreement for three additional Dolphin II-class submarines. These new submarines are expected to be completed around 2027 and will replace the older three Dolphin submarines.¹⁴ Furthermore, in 2022 the German and Israeli governments finalized a contract for three follow-on next-generation submarines, to be known as the Dakar class. These submarines are expected to begin replacing the first three Dolphin-class boats in the early 2030s.¹⁵

Ship Biographies

Dolphin-Class

Israel currently possesses five Dolphin-class diesel-electric submarines. Three of the five are old Dolphin type vessels. The older Dolphin-class are 57.3 meters long with a 6.8-meter-wide beam and can travel up to 20 knots when submerged. They can remain submerged for 30 days without surfacing. Their weapons systems are capable of firing torpedoes.

The modernized Dolphin II-class vessels instead run on a conventional diesel led-acid battery system. They have an AIP system which allows the vessels to travel extremely quietly and to remain submerged for up to a week without surfacing.¹⁶ Reports dictate that these vessels have a maximum speed of 25 knots and a range of 4,500km.¹⁷ The submarines are equipped with four enlarged 650mm torpedo tubes which lead to much speculation that the Israelis intend to outfit the submarines with nuclear-armed cruise missiles.¹⁸ The newest submarine, INS Drakon is larger than any previous Israeli submarine, being much longer than the first two Dolphin-II boats, with a hull insert likely meant for containing newer, more advanced missile systems. Estimates suggest that the longer hull adds a space approximately 2 meters wide by 4 meters long and up to 11 meters deep. This could accommodate two large missile silos, 4-8 smaller ones, with speculation that these silos could house nuclear warheads.¹⁹

Imports

HDW, now a part of ThyssenKurpp Marine Systems (TKMS), designed and constructed Israel’s submarine fleet. In November 2005, the outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder approved the sale of the fourth and fifth Dolphin-class submarines for a total of $1.17 billion, with a third of this cost to be financed by the German government. In March 2012, Israel placed an order with ThyssenKrupp for a sixth vessel, costing a reported $2 billion.²⁰ In late 2016, allegations of corruption surfaced in relation to the deal. Several close associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are suspected of receiving bribes as part of the state purchase of submarines from ThyssenKrupp. In January 2021, a German prosecutor closed the case citing “no sufficient suspicion of criminal offenses against specific domestic persons.”²¹ In 2017, Germany and Israel agreed that Germany would subsidize a significant portion of the INS Drakon cost. Israel will pay about 2.4 -billion -euros and Germany will cover the remainder of the 3.4-billion-euro total cost. Furthermore, the two nations agreed that Germany would invest 850 million euros into Israeli defense companies.²²

Exports

Israel does not export submarines.