Dakar-class submarine

The Dakar-class submarine (Hebrew : הצוללות מסדרת דקר) is a class of AIP-capable, diesel-electric attack submarines ordered by the Israeli Navy from German-based naval conglomerate ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).[8]

Dakar-class submarine
Class overview
BuildersThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
Operators Israeli Navy
Preceded byDolphin class
CostEUR €3 billion (Total deal)[1]
In serviceExpected to enter active service from 2031.[2]
Planned3[3]
General characteristics
TypeAttack submarine
Length74 m (243 ft)[4] estimated
Propulsion
Armament
NotesPlanned to replace the first batch of three Dolphin-class submarines.[7]

The Dakar class features a new design compared to the Israeli Navy's currently-serving Dolphin-class submarines. It has been customized to fulfill the operational requirements of the Israeli Navy.[9] The class was named in honor of INS Dakar, an Israeli submarine which mysteriously sank in 1968.[10]

In January 2022, Israel's Ministry of Defense ordered three submarines - as a replacement to the first batch of the Israeli Navy's Dolphin-class submarines; the first of the new submarines are slated to enter service within nine years.[11][12]

Overview

Design

Current details about the class' design are scant; however, it is understood that the submarines have been specifically engineered to fulfill the operational requirements of the Israeli Navy.[13] According to a computer-generated rendering released by TKMS, the design of the Dakar class appears to be similar to the Dolphin-class submarines and the concept art of the Type 212CD submarine, currently being built for the German Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy.[14]

Distinctive features

Armament

Current details about the armament of the Dakar class are scant; however, it is believed that apart from its torpedo tubes, the class' design may incorporate vertical launching system (VLS) cells, capable of firing submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), or submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) - presumably equipped with nuclear warheads or surface-to-air missile (SAM)[18]

Capabilities

Little is known about the class' designated capabilities, ostensibly due to Israel's tight control on information and confidentiality regarding its military assets, especially its submarine fleet.[19] According to Benny Gantz, Israel's Minister of Defense, the Dakar-class submarines would "upgrade the capabilities of the Israeli Navy, and will contribute to Israel's security superiority in the region".[20]

Concurrently, it is believed that the submarines may feature ballistic missiles, given the submarines' unusually long sail - presumably to accommodate VLS cells, although there is no indication that Israel has, or is currently developing an SLBM.[21]

The suggestion that an enlarged sail may probably be used for housing nuclear-tipped missiles is very likely; for example, early-generations of Soviet-designed ballistic missile submarines, such as the Project 611 submarines, carried ballistic missiles in their sail.[22] If true, the Dakar class would be the second class of conventionally-powered, air-independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped submarines capable of carrying and launching ballistic missiles; the first one is the KSS-III submarine - operated by the Republic of Korea Navy, although it carries ballistic missiles in its hull, not in its sail.[23]

Aside from the prospective use of ballistic missiles, the possibility of utilizing VLS cells in the sail for accommodating additional missiles - whose size may be exceedingly large to be launched from either the hull or from torpedo tubes - such as submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM), is also likely.[24]

History

In 2017, Israel and Germany signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to acquire three new submarines, as part of the Dolphin class, at a cost of USD $1.5 billion.[25] According to the deal, Germany agreed to subsidize up to 30% of the submarine's hull, mechanical and electrical costs.[26]

In 2018, the Israeli Navy announced that the three future submarines were to be classified as the Dakar class, in honor of INS Dakar (Hebrew: אח"י דקר) - an ex-Royal Navy T-class submarine purchased by the Israeli Navy, which mysteriously sunk while being transferred to Israel in 1968.[6]

On 20 January 2022, Israel's Ministry of Defense officially contracted TKMS to construct the three diesel-electric attack submarines, at a cost of EUR €3 billion.[27] The three designated submarines are poised to replace the first batch of three Dolphin-class submarines, which were built in Germany and commissioned between 1999 and 2000.[28] The deal also included the creation of a training simulator in Israel, and the supply of spare parts.[29]

Reportedly, ThyssenKrupp invested €250 million into TKMS in 2019, in anticipation of the order - developing a new shipyard in Kiel to operate as a new centre of competence for submarine manufacturing capabilities, as well as the construction of a new shipbuilding hall and fuel-cell production site.[30]

The deal for the three submarines - which was originally estimated to cost around €1.8 billion, has increased by a margin of €1.2 billion, to a total of €3 billion; the increase in the price is yet to be officially clarified.[31] The German government, which agreed to subsidize €600 million into the deal, out of the original price of €1.8 billion, asserted that it would not raise its subsidy in proportion with the increase in price; as a result, the net cost to Israel will thus be twice as high, at €2.4 billion.[32] However, the Ministry of Defense had approved the procurement of the three submarines at the inflated price, without the public or the Knesset - Israel's parliament, being notified.[33]

Case 3000

The procurement of the Dakar-class submarines occurred just days before the Cabinet of Israel initiated investigations into allegations of corruption regarding the procurement of the Dolphin-class submarines, between 2009 and 2016.[34] Referred to as the "Case 3000", the scandal encompasses allegations of corruption, bribery and tax evasion against multiple Israeli individuals connected to the acquisition of the Dolphin-class submarines; among the accused is Benjamin Netanyahu - Israel's then and now prime minister, David Shimron - Netanyahu's personal lawyer and Eliezer Marom - a former chief of the Israeli Navy, who had previously served under Netanyahu.[35]

However, the acquisition of the Dakar-class submarines is not related to the scandal, nor has Netanyahu been named as a suspect in it.[36]

Boats in class
Hull numbers Name Builder Launched Commissioned Status
(??) INS Dakar (אח"י דקר)  Germany

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)

Expected in 2031[37][38] Ordered
(??) INS (??) Ordered
(??) INS (??) Ordered

See also

References
  1. "Israel inks multi-billion dollar submarine deal with Germany". eastmojo.com. 21 January 2022.
  2. "Israel signs scandal-ridden €3 billion deal with Germany to buy new submarines". The Times of Israel.
  3. "Israel Orders 3 New Dakar-Class Submarines From TKMS". navalnews.com. 20 January 2022.
  4. "Three submarines for three billion euros: TKMS in Kiel is building for Israel".
  5. "Israel inks multi-billion submarine deal with Germany ahead of corruption probe". thecradle.co. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  6. "New Israeli submarines to have new capabilities". jpost.com. 20 January 2022.
  7. "Israel signs $ 3.4 billion submarines deal with Germany's Thyssenkrupp". reuters.com. 20 January 2022.
  8. "Israel Orders Three New Submarines From ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems". thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com/en. 20 January 2022.
  9. "Israel signs $3.4b sub deal with German firm". tv7israelnews.com. 21 January 2022.
  10. "IDF's New Submarine Model to be Named after Lost INS Dakar". israeldefense.co.il. 11 October 2018.
  11. "Israel signs scandal-ridden €3 billion deal with Germany to buy new submarines". The Times of Israel.
  12. "Israel inks multi-billion dollar submarine deal with Germany". bgdailynews.com. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  13. "Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems Has Secured A Major Deal". spsmai.com. 21 January 2022.
  14. "Our First Look At Israel's New Dakar Class Submarine Reveals A Very Peculiar Feature". thedrive.com/the-war-zone. 20 January 2022.
  15. "Our First Look At Israel's New Dakar Class Submarine Reveals A Very Peculiar Feature". thedrive.com/the-war-zone. 20 January 2022.
  16. "First Look At Israeli Navy Dakar Class Submarine". hisutton.com. 21 January 2022.
  17. "First Look At Israeli Navy Dakar Class Submarine". hisutton.com. 21 January 2022.
  18. "Our First Look At Israel's New Dakar Class Submarine Reveals A Very Peculiar Feature". thedrive.com/the-war-zone. 20 January 2022.
  19. "How Israel's secretive submarines simulate attacks at sea". businessinsider.com. 11 June 2021.
  20. "Israel signs $3.4 billion deal with Germany to buy three submarines". ir-ia.com. 21 January 2022.
  21. "This is the first time I've seen Israel's next-generation Dakar-class submarine". autobala.com. 20 January 2022.
  22. "First Look At Israeli Navy Dakar Class Submarine". hisutton.com. 21 January 2022.
  23. "Israeli Submarines: 3 submarines to fire nuclear missiles will join the Israeli Navy, Iran's tension is set to increase". hindustannewshub.com. 21 January 2022.
  24. "Our First Look At Israel's New Dakar Class Submarine Reveals A Very Peculiar Feature". News07trends. 21 January 2022.
  25. "Germany approves deal on three submarines for Israel". dw.com. 23 October 2017.
  26. "Israel signs MoU for 3 German submarines amid shipyard investigation". armytimes.com. 24 October 2017.
  27. "Israeli Ministry Of Defence Orders Three Dakar-Class Submarines From ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems". militaryleak.com. 20 January 2022.
  28. "Our First Look At Israel's New Dakar Class Submarine Reveals A Very Peculiar Feature". thedrive.com/the-war-zone. 20 January 2022.
  29. "Israel Buys Three Military Submarines from Germany". english.aawsat.com. 20 January 2022.
  30. "ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems builds three new submarines for Israel". fuentitech.com. 21 January 2022.
  31. "German Subs to Cost Twice as Much as Planned". hamodia.com. 18 January 2022.
  32. "Israel to buy German submarines despite cost doubling". Globes. 18 January 2022.
  33. "Israel Signs Deal With Germany to Buy Three Submarines". haaretz.com. 20 January 2022.
  34. "Israel approves state probe into German submarine procurement". morungexpress.com. 24 January 2022.
  35. "Israel launches state probe into German submarine purchase". abcnews.go.com. 23 January 2022.
  36. "Israel Inks Multi-Billion Dollar Submarine Deal with Germany". naharnet.com. 21 January 2022.
  37. "Israel signs scandal-ridden €3 billion deal with Germany to buy new submarines". timesofisrael.com. 20 January 2022.
  38. "Israel Submarine Capabilities". nti.org. 29 July 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.