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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).[1] 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.[2] The class was named in honor of INS Dakar, an Israeli submarine which mysteriously sank in 1968.[3] 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.[4][5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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)[11] 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.[12] 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".[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17] 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 US$ $1.5 billion.[18] According to the deal, Germany agreed to subsidize up to 30% of the submarine's hull, mechanical and electrical costs.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22] The deal also included the creation of a training simulator in Israel, and the supply of spare parts.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25] 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.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28] 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.[29] However, the acquisition of the Dakar-class submarines is not related to the scandal, nor has Netanyahu been named as a suspect in it.[30] Boats in class[]
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The original article can be found at Dakar-class submarine and the edit history here. |
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This article is regarding the recent procurement of a class of three conventionally-powered submarines by the Israeli Navy. This class is not to be confused with its predecessor - the Dolphin-class submarines, which are currently in active service with the Israeli Navy.
