Article

2011-10-27 Europe

Officials mum over report Berlin may renege on sub deal. Decision to sell advanced submarine is being reconsidered in light of Israel failure to move forward on talks with Palestinian Authority.

Defense officials have remained silent over a report that Germany could renege on its promise to sell Israel a Dolphin-class Navy submarine, due to Berlin's disapproval of Israeli construction in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem.

According to the report, published on Wednesday in Yedioth Ahronoth, German diplomatic officials said the decision to sell the advanced submarine, which would join Israel's existing fleet of five submarines, was being reconsidered in light of the failure of the Netanyahu government to move forward on talks with the Palestinian Authority.

Defense officials in Israel said they could not comment on the report. Similarly, in an e-mail to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday , a spokesperson for Germany's Merkel Administration wrote, "There has been a long-standing discussion about cooperation regarding military armaments in the framework of talks between the Federal Chancellor and the Israeli Prime Minister. In connection with these talks, confidentiality has been agreed to. I would like to adhere to the confidentiality."

Channel 2 cited foreign media as saying that the submarine was supposed to join the strategic fleet of underwater vessels "that carry nuclear missiles on board."

Israel relies on its submarines to carry out long-range security missions far from Israel's borders.

Posted by trailing wife 2011-10-27 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top

#1 Definitely not true

Posted by European Conservative 2011-10-27 00:11|| 2011-10-27 00:11|| Front Page Top

#2 Maybe it should be.. Israel seems to like hacking Seimens equipment and they don't seem too picky where they hack.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2011-10-27 03:12|| 2011-10-27 03:12|| Front Page Top

#3 Time to go into sub business, with India.

Posted by gr(o)mgoru 2011-10-27 04:26|| 2011-10-27 04:26|| Front Page Top

#4 Israel seems to like hacking Seimens equipment and they don't seem too picky where they hack.

If Simiens persists in selling nuke related equipment to Iran, hacking is the least that they can expect.

Posted by gr(o)mgoru 2011-10-27 04:28|| 2011-10-27 04:28|| Front Page Top

#5 "In 2005 Israel ordered two submarines, which are to be delivered in 2011 and 2012. These two new boats are similar to the highly advanced German U212 submarine and feature an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system.

"Israel is currently discussing a possible third submarine with Germany. In 2011, Israel placed an order for a sixth Dolphin submarine to be built in coming years, for which it will pay $1 billion."

This being said, if it was at all possible, Israel should indeed go in with India for subs, likewise try to contract with Sweden, who makes some fine boats. India has the production capacity to make a world class fleet of boats, and quickly.

The idea could even be expanded to perhaps Japan, who while their submarines are okay, could provide state of the art internal systems to make good boats a lot better.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-10-27 10:15|| 2011-10-27 10:15|| Front Page Top

#6 I should add that the US may have the ace in the hole for submarines, however, because of new satellite technology that can "see" through water from the surface to the bottom, thus rendering all submarines, their location, direction and speed, visible.

And, since we can do it, others may soon be able to do it as well.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-10-27 10:18|| 2011-10-27 10:18|| Front Page Top

#7 As we learned at Rantburg U, the Turks have a bunch of subs. Maybe the Israelis should offer to trade a bunch of flour and powdered milk for one.

Posted by SteveS 2011-10-27 13:17|| 2011-10-27 13:17|| Front Page Top

#8 I doubt that there is another country than Germany which will pick up a significant part of the costs of those subs.

And once again, the report is not true. Nothing is reconsidered. Period.

Posted by European Conservative 2011-10-27 16:21|| 2011-10-27 16:21|| Front Page Top

09:27 Warthog
09:11 Mercutio
09:07 AlmostAnonymous5839
08:52 Matt
08:24 Matt
08:20 SteveS
07:43 Procopius2k
07:42 BrerRabbit
07:42 Procopius2k
07:39 Procopius2k
07:36 Procopius2k
07:35 Procopius2k
07:34 trailing wife
07:31 Procopius2k
07:30 NN2N1
07:22 NN2N1
07:18 trailing wife
07:14 Richard Aubrey
07:10 NN2N1
07:09 Besoeker
07:03 NN2N1
06:58 NN2N1
06:58 Besoeker
05:28 Whiskey Mike