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Israel: New Submarines Make Their Way to the IDF Navy
By Israel News Agency Staff Jerusalem, Israel ---- January 15, 2011 ...... The Israel Navy is now preparing to receive a new submarine. In the last two enlistment cycles for the IDF Submarine Flotilla Corp, there was an increase by 30 percent for combat soldiers trained for the position, a result of two new submarines acquired by Israel from Germany. IDF Navy officials explain that the submarines’ arrival will increase the number of such vessels in the IDF and their reach in deterring an attack on Israel. In order to have enough combat soldiers to successfully operate the new submarines, more IDF combat fighters will complete the course each cycle. Hundreds of Israel Defense Forces soldiers completed their naval course just two weeks ago. "We're at the peak of a process and we're slowly adding more crews to be trained for the position," explains Commander of the Naval Training Base, Col. Ronen Nimni. "Additionally, we made sure to increase the number of commanders to maintain more personalized instruction for soldiers." Until today, the mix of IDF naval officers has mostly included those for the IDF Missile Boat Flotilla. As a result of the new additions, however, this could change," says the IDF spokesperson's office. The training base explains there might be a 35 percent increase in the number of IDF cadets trained for submarines. The decision to increase the number of IDF combat soldiers and officers in the Israel Submarine Flotilla also affects logistics at the Naval Training Base including a need for more spacious rooms for soldiers, more classrooms and more instructors. "The training base is prepared for any increase in the number of officers and combat soldiers," says commander of submarine operations school, Maj. I. Private security analysts tell the Israel News Agency that the IDF Submarine Flotilla has become the most potent weapon in the IDF's arsenal of weapons, overshadowing the elite Israel Air Force. "Israel submarines deliver real time INTEL from all over the globe on Islamic terror threats against Israel. From this INTEL we are able to neutralize threats before they become actual." "Although Israel has never confirmed nor denied having planted the Stuxnet computer cyber war virus which has neutralized much of Iran's nuclear program against Israel and Europe, it is believed that if Stuxnet did not deploy, the IDF submarine fleet was more than ready to physically destroy each and every missile targeting Israel and Europe. And Israel's Mossad remains ready to neutralize those politicians and technicians in Iran who are behind the development of the Iran nuclear program." Iran President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently admitted that that a computer worm
incapacitated centrifuges of the Iran military nuclear program.
"The Israel submarine fleet runs very deep and very silent. They can sit in one position for months off the shores of an enemy state in both a defensive and offensive mode," says the analyst. "There is no doubt that Israel maintains a very strong and potent edge for making a first strike and last strike in the next war." According
to The Telegraph Israel acquired the capability of launching
a nuclear strike against Iran and Syria from submarines before
2003. This would place Israel and the IDF among a handful of countries
able to deliver atomic weapons from land, sea and air. The Israel government does not comment on its nuclear capacity. But experts agree that Israel has the world's sixth largest nuclear arsenal with some 400 warheads, deployed on subs, fighter aircraft and ground units. The Israel Navy is said to maintain daily contact and cooperation with the US, UK, Germany, France and members of NATO. Israel's participation in monthly and annual war games with US and European allies has transcended into one very large, democratic, military force completely coordinated to meet and neutralize any Islamic Jihadist terror threat around the world. Foreign media reports state that Israel's secret effort to acquire a nuclear bomb began in 1956 when France supplied a nuclear reactor and technical help. By 1968 Israel had a nuclear capability. In June 2002, former US State Department and Pentagon officials confirmed that the US Navy observed Israeli missile tests in the Indian Ocean in 2000, and that the Dolphin-class vessels have been fitted with nuclear-capable cruise missiles of a new design. In November 2005, outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder approved the sale of two modernized Dolphin-class submarines to Israel for a total cost of $1.27 billion. A third of the cost will be financed by the German government. Israel is hoping to acquire two more submarines that are even more advanced in the near future, the Meko A-100. If the Israel navy purchases the two vessels, it reportedly will arm them with air-defense capability, thus creating the world's first air defense corvettes – and giving the Israel surface fleet independent air cover for the first time. Israel has allegedly deployed a permanent submarine presence in the Persian Gulf to maintain a 24/7 eye on Iran, according to media reports. The three German built submarines are reportedly equipped with nuclear cruise missiles. "Flotilla 7" is comprised of three submarines that have visited the region before – the Dolphin, the Tekuma and the Leviathan. Each IDF crew includes between 35 to 50 soldiers and is commanded by a colonel. At least one will remain in the area at all times, until further notice, according to “Colonel O,” the commander of the IDF force quoted in the reports. “We are an underwater assault force, operating deep and far – very far – from our borders,” he said. The submarines can stay submerged as deep as 2,000 feet below the surface, for as long as a month, and can remain at sea for some 90 days. The force is intended primarily as a deterrent, however. “The 1,500 kilometer range of the submarines' cruise missiles can reach any target in Iran,” noted a IDF naval officer quoted by British newspaper The Sunday Times. Israel Navy Commander Maj.-Gen. Eliezer Marom told those completing Israel’s 98th Submarine Commando course: “The Submarine Commando was established over 50 years ago, and has taken part in countless national security operations. The daring and courage of the submariners, and the professional manner in which they operate this advanced war machine, are the secret of the commando’s success.” The objectives of the Submarine Commando is to destroy enemy ships, ensure control of port entries, espionage and provide aid to other Israeli and ally forces. The Navy’s Dolphin subs are among the most advanced conventional submarines in the world and are the IDF’s most complex and expensive assets. "We are always found in operational activity, that is why our abilities are among the highest in the world," says Eyal (a Colonel in Israel's navy) who is retiring after twenty years of service in Israel's submarine fleet. "For years the submarine fleet has been an important strategic arm of the IDF, however since the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, 9/11 and the Second Gulf War it is more than just that."
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