The Israeli Navy currently operates five Dolphin-class submarines based at Haifa.

While the Israeli Air Force (IAF), operator of cutting-edge fighters ranging from the F-35I Adir to the F-15I Ra’am, is often considered to be Israel’s best military asset, the Israeli Navy should not be discounted. Indeed, Israel’s fleet of Dolphin-class submarines is critical to its nuclear deterrence strategy. These vessels are capable of carrying out missions ranging from intelligence collection and special operations support to anti-surface warfare and deterrence. Considering the ramp-up in Iran’s nuclear progress, the maintenance of Israel’s Dolphin submarines is paramount. Although Israel stands by its policy of nuclear “ambiguity,” experts widely concur that these top-tier submarines are in fact nuclear-armed.

Introducing the Dolphin-class submarines

The Israeli Navy currently operates five Dolphin-class submarines based at Haifa. These diesel-electric vessels were designed and constructed by Germany’s Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in the late 1990s. Initially, the first Dolphin boats delivered were derived from the export-only German Navy Type 212. Israel acquired these vessels to replace its aging Gal-class submarines at the time. After commissioning the third Dolphin I sub, a successor submarine variant was conceptualized. The larger Dolphin II boats displace 2,400 tons submerged and can sail at a top speed of 25 knots. In order to extend the class’s stealthy undersea operations, a lengthened design provided a larger plug for an air-independent propulsion system with fuel cells.

Following lessons learned during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israeli officials prioritized developing a robust nuclear triad of air, sea, and land-based weapons so that a second-strike capability could be carried out if necessary. Israel had not confirmed the Dolphin’s nuclear-related capability; however, these submarines were certainly constructed to pack a punch. As detailed by the U.S. Naval Institute, these vessels feature hull-mounted and flank array sonars with ten bow torpedo tubes, which can carry “German DM2A4 wire-guided torpedoes, mines, and U.S. Harpoon antiship missiles. The larger 650-mm tubes reportedly can launch swimmer delivery vehicles or be fitted with liners to carry torpedoes or missiles.”

The latest Dolphin II submarine to be constructed is the INS Drakon. Last year, rumors surrounding the submarine’s strikingly large sail circulated, as experts speculated its increased size could provide room for advanced new missiles. Additionally, the Drakon could incorporate a vertical launch system (VLS) that would allow for a wider array of weapons to be launched from the submarine. While the Israel Defense Forces has yet to comment on the exact capabilities of the Drakon, the vessel could be able to launch long-range ballistic missiles which ascend sharply and later descend toward its target, and cruise missiles which fly at lower altitudes.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s recent report detailing the extent of Iran’s nuclear progress is obviously concerning for the rogue regime’s top adversary. According to Israel’s Begin Doctrine, the Israeli government is tasked with ensuring any viable threat to the nation’s survival (including weapons of mass destruction) is eliminated.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.

Image: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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