Germany to build largest submarines for Israel since war
Preliminary render of an Israeli Dakar-class submarine, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
On January 20, 2022, in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with the German shipbuilding association ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to design and build three new non-nuclear submarines for the Israeli Navy.
The deal is very large in terms of money and is estimated at 3,1 billion euros, while the German government will allocate a significant amount to partially co-finance the project.
Another interesting feature of the agreement is that the German shipbuilding company will build the most advanced non-nuclear submarines for Israel.
Submarines are likely to receive a VMPL (Vertical Multi-Purpose Lock) module developed by TKMS engineers, designed to accommodate underwater vehicles, vertical missile launchers or an airlock chamber for combat swimmers.
Another interesting point is the fact that non-nuclear Dakar-class submarines for the Israeli Navy are likely to be the largest submarines built in Germany after World War II. Their underwater displacement can be more than 2 tons.
For comparison: the most advanced German diesel-electric submarines of type XXI, which had a huge impact on the entire post-war submarine shipbuilding, had an underwater displacement of approximately 2 tons.
What is known about the contract concluded in Israel
History, of course - a lady with self-irony.
Less than a century ago, Germany and German society were obsessed with ideas of anti-Semitism, which turned into a terrible tragedy for the entire Jewish population of Europe, and today German defense companies are the main partners of the Israeli navy.
The ties established between the countries are quite strong and have only been expanding in recent years. In addition to submarines, Germany is building modern corvettes for Israel.
Israeli Dolphin-class submarine, 2010 photo, wikimedia.org
Four Sa'ar 2015 corvettes ordered in Germany in 6, along with submarines of the Dolphin and Dolphin 2 types, were built for the Israeli Navy in Germany.
And now the latest submarines for the Israeli fleet will be supplied by the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, which has become an important partner for Israel in the construction of surface and submarine warships.
The cost of the deal for the construction of three non-nuclear submarines of the Dakar project is a record for Israel. For 3,1 billion euros, the country will receive not only three of the most advanced non-nuclear submarines, but also an extensive set of related equipment, equipment and spare parts. The contract also includes the construction in Israel of a modern training complex for training submariners and a full package of logistical support.
The sale of three non-nuclear boats equipped with a modern air-independent power plant also provides for a compensation agreement between the countries in the amount of more than $850 million. This agreement provides for Germany's obligations to purchase products from the Israeli industry, including the defense industry.
Despite the acquisition of three new submarines, the Israeli Navy does not abandon the concept chosen at the end of the XNUMXth century, according to which the fleet should simultaneously have six large non-nuclear submarines. The new Dakar-class boats will replace the Dolphin-class submarines in the Israeli Navy, which will be withdrawn from the fleet after thirty years of service.
Submarine of the Dolphin 2 type with an air independent power plant, photo: thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com
At the turn of the 2000s, the Israeli Navy received three diesel submarines from Germany, built according to a special project IKL800. The first diesel-electric submarines of this type were designated Dolphin in Israel.
The boats were built in Germany at the Nordseewerke Emden shipyard in Emden, closed in 2010. It is planned that they will be in the fleet until the early 2030s.
In 2006, Israel ordered two more submarines from Germany, this time on a different project. These were modified boats with a larger displacement, equipped with an air-independent power plant, which was not available on the first Dolphin-class boats.
The project was designated Dolphin 2. The first two boats entered the Israeli Navy in 2014-2016.
In 2011, Israel ordered another boat of the Dolphin 2 project. It was a modernized project, modified at the request of the Israeli military.
The boat, which is planned to be handed over to Israeli sailors by 2023, has a total displacement of 2 tons. This submarine could already claim the title of the largest submarine built in Germany after World War II.
Features of submarines of the Dakar type
Judging by the images published on the Internet of future Dakar-class boats, they may well have an even greater underwater displacement than all the submarines ordered by Israel so far. And, perhaps, they will surpass in this parameter the third boat of the Dolphin 2 type, which has not yet been introduced into the Israeli fleet.
Project 212CD submarine render for the German and Norwegian navies, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
The new boats got their name Dakar in honor of the Israeli submarine of the same name that mysteriously died in 1968.
The submarine was bought in the UK and sank while crossing to Israel on January 25, 1968 under unclear circumstances. The submarine was discovered only in 1999.
The new Dakar-class submarines will be the largest in the Israeli fleet. In terms of underwater displacement, they will be comparable to the fourth-generation Russian diesel-electric submarines of Project 677 Lada.
At the same time, unlike Russian boats, Israeli submarines will almost certainly receive a German-made air-independent power plant based on hydrogen fuel cells.
Such an installation is used on all three Israeli Navy Dolphin 2 boats and on modern project 212CD boats, which were ordered by the German and Norwegian navies and will be commissioned at the turn of the 2030s.
This technology allows the submarine to make trips without having to rise to the surface. True, the range of diving in this mode is seriously limited.
Judging by the submitted renderings, Israeli Dakar-class submarines will receive hull lines comparable to the new German Project 212CD boats, which are also planned to enter the German fleet in the early 2030s.
A distinctive feature of the boats, apparently, will be a special diamond-shaped hull. This form was chosen by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems engineers as part of the implementation of stealth technology.
At the same time, according to previously published renders, which may be preliminary, we can talk about the presence of an elongated cabin on a Dakar-type boat, the dimensions of which allow us to judge the placement of various additional equipment in it. Such a solution, apparently, can increase the length of the boat up to four meters.
Preliminary render of an Israeli Dakar-class submarine, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
Experts believe that the presence of such an elongated strong felling may be dictated by the specifics of the use of Israeli boats, which will be involved in special operations.
In this case, the extra space will come in handy to accommodate the special forces soldiers with all the necessary gear and equipment.
It is also possible that the Israelis needed the increased size of the cabin to accommodate missiles of increased size and power on the boat. Probably, we are talking about ballistic missiles. There have been examples in history when missile silos were located in an elongated felling fence.
Such a solution, in particular, was used on the first Soviet submarines, which were equipped with ballistic missiles. For example, on boats of project 658M.
The transfer of three new submarines to the Israeli Navy should take place in the early 2030s, it was previously reported that the first submarine could be ready as early as 2027.
As part of the Israeli fleet, they will replace Dolphin-class boats, which are distinguished by a much more modest displacement and do not have an air-independent power plant.
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