The renewed engagement with the issue of the submarines of the State of Israel is an excellent opportunity to examine exactly what our submarines are doing, where they are capable of reaching and what they are carrying.
All, of course, according to foreign publications, since this is one of the most secret secrets in the State of Israel.
Much has been written about the criminal aspect of the subject, so this article will deal only with the capabilities that according to foreign publications our submarines are capable of doing.
The Israeli Navy currently has five submarines - three "Dolphin" models and two "AIP Dolphin" models.
The date of arrival of another submarine, sixth in number, is 2023.
Last week it was reported that the defense establishment had agreed with ThyssenKrupp to purchase three more submarines.
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The IDF's newest submarine, the "AIP Dolphin" model, is the Rahav Brotherhood, which entered service in 2016.
This model is considered one of the best in the world, and includes, among other things, a propulsion system independent of outdoor air, which means that the submarine is able to stay underwater longer, as it does not have to ascend to produce oxygen.
The submarine includes space for 35 fighters, including six officers, as well as space for about 15 additional soldiers.
The submarines are capable of staying in the sea for a long time, and according to estimates, an underwater stay can last as long as three weeks.
Other publications even reported a stay of about 50 days.
It is capable of sailing for a range of about 8,000 nautical miles on the sea, and 4,500 nautical miles in diving, according to official data.
This means that an Israeli submarine can stay in a threatened area for a long time and protect Israel at particularly great distances.
Thus, it was reported in 2010 in the Sandy Times, even before the arrival of the "Dolphin AIP" submarines, that Israel intends to place three submarines in the Persian Gulf, in the Iranian region.
One, published then, will stay in the Gulf waters regularly.
The investigation revealed: Does Israel have submarines capable of firing nuclear missiles?
According to foreign publications, Israeli submarines have six 533 mm multi-purpose torpedo tubes and 648 mm multi-purpose torpedo tubes, which are capable of launching Harpoon missiles and other missiles.
According to unverified reports, the submarines routinely carry five Harpoon missiles and 16 torpedo missiles.
When it comes to arming the submarine, the hidden rabbi over the visible.
The submarines are known to carry Harpoon-type missiles, known in the IDF as a canary. In addition, it has been reported that the submarines have anti-helicopter missiles.
The Israeli Navy submarine is anchored in the Gulf of Eilat, Photo: Yehuda Ben Yethach
As early as 2003, rumors began about the nuclear capabilities of Israeli submarines.
U.S. and Israeli sources quoted anonymously in the Los Angeles Times claimed that Israel had converted Harpoon missiles and allowed them to carry nuclear weapons.
In order to do this, the IDF converted the missiles so that they could hit targets on land. In addition, a nuclear warhead was minimized so that it could fit the missile.
Suspicions regarding Israel's possibility of launching a submarine nuclear missile grew in 2012, when the German newspaper Der Spiegel published an investigation alleging that Israeli-owned dolphin submarines had "Popeye Turbo SLM" missiles with a nuclear warhead, manufactured by Rafael. The purpose of the nuclear missiles, according to the newspaper, is to allow the IDF to carry out a second nuclear strike against Iran, in order to prevent another attack after a nuclear missile is fired at Israel. Launch a missile at land.
The world security press, which deals intensively with the Israeli nuclear issue, has raised many questions about the capabilities of our submarines.
Various reports indicate that tests were carried out as early as 2000 on target fire at a distance of about 1,500 kilometers, a huge distance as far as submarine launching capabilities are concerned.
For comparison, Harpoon missiles can be launched at a range of between 90 and 315 km, depending on the range. Other reports claim that the IDF conducted experiments on the presence of Americans in the Indian Ocean with highly advanced missiles, about which no more is known.
It should be noted that in Israel these reports were completely denied.
Not much is known about the capabilities of the submarines, and their activities.
In 2013, the British Sunday Times reported that an Israeli submarine fired a missile and destroyed weapons depots in the city of Latakia in Syria, a report that was not confirmed by other sources.
Over the years, other reports of attacks in Syria that were allegedly carried out by Israeli submarines have become widespread.
In one of the world's most famous military sites, "National Interest" published an article a few years ago by a security correspondent named Kyle Mizukami, who dealt with submarine issues, and praised the Israeli army.
"Israel has a submarine capable of destroying entire nations, and that's all we think we know about it," the headline read.
Dolphin submarine, Photo: Gideon Markowitz
"In 1991, when she saw the Iraqi ballistic missiles land on Israeli cities, Tel Aviv realized that the country needed nuclear capability at sea as well," he wrote.
He noted that Israeli submarines are capable of disappearing for weeks or even months, in order to wait for command day and launch the second blow.
The goal, he added, is to ensure that potential enemies think twice before attacking, knowing that submarines are available to carry out revenge if necessary.
The article noted that the first three submarines from the Dolphin series were approved before the Gulf War, in 1988, and it is unclear whether they were originally equipped with nuclear weapons.
After years of delays construction began in Germany, instead of in the United States as originally planned, with German combat systems instead of American ones.
"According to reports, there are cells for divers and mixed armaments of German, American and Israeli weapons. It is claimed that the submarines have fiber-optic-guided weapon systems, with large ranges, missiles capable of attacking helicopters, ships and coastal targets."
Wrote.
The highlight is the torpedo.
"The four large torpedo tubes are the key to Israel's naval warning. The large tubes are used not only for laying mines and inserting divers, but also for launching nuclear cruise missiles," the article added.
He further noted that in 2000 the U.S. Navy identified a missile launch from the coast of Sri Lanka, at a distance of about 1,5000 kilometers.
"Assessing exactly what would have caused the missile to enter into speculation, but the leading candidate is an advanced Popeye missile," he added.
Other options are a converted Gabriel missile or a converted Harpoon missile.
"No one knows for sure what the missile is, only that it was observed, and that the fact that it carries a nuclear warhead is a logical conclusion." The size of the nuclear warhead on the missiles is unknown, but estimates are around two hundred kilotons, About Hiroshima. "
It is likely that the capabilities and operations of the Israeli submarines will continue to be vague and we will never know.
However, even if it is a nuclear capability or only a conventional capability, it is clear that the IDF's force at sea is particularly substantial and strong.
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