Germany's Federal Security Council has approved the export of a fifth submarine to Israel.
It's
the penultimate submarine promised to Israel by German Chancellor
Angela Merkel and will be handed over by the company Thyssen Krupp.
Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper revealed the approval, citing the Federal Security Council's report to the parliamentary Economics Committee.
Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) builds the new Air Independent Propulsion Dolphins and the decision to sell them has been criticized for two reasons. One, in that German taxpayers are shouldering a third of the cost.
Secondly, the vessels are reportedly capable of being equipped with nuclear weapons.
Peter Roberts is an expert in sea power and naval weapons systems at the Royal United Services Institute in London and told Sputnik News that Israel will want to produce and develop nuclear capability on the new submarines.
"That's the long term aspiration", says Roberts. "But does it have it right now? No.
"Several hurdles have to be overcome before it can be armed with a nuclear warhead."
He explains that the key to being able to arm the submarines with nuclear weapons is down to the delivery mechanism.
"The submarines would have the ability to launch them [missiles] — it's the weapon itself that is the critical part and developing that weapon and navigation system for the guidance from within a submerged submarine is a further challenge."
Peter Roberts says it's difficult to say whether the submarines are distinctly designed for nuclear weapons.
Adding that German Chancellor Merkel agreed to supply Israel with the vessels "without any prior consultation with the EU."
A recent report titled 'German Submarines — Capabilities and
Potential', written by Captain Raimund Wallner, and published by the
Royal United Services Institute in London, says:
"To sum up, one may say that due to their characteristics of compactness, covertness, sustainability and high combat power, submarines made in Germany are already able to meet the majority of the demands which today's and future scenarios pose to underwater platforms.
"They do have their price, but they extend the maritime capability spectrum of the Bundeswehr in a unique way, and thus the military options in the hands of the political leaders…
Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper revealed the approval, citing the Federal Security Council's report to the parliamentary Economics Committee.
Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) builds the new Air Independent Propulsion Dolphins and the decision to sell them has been criticized for two reasons. One, in that German taxpayers are shouldering a third of the cost.
Why don't the Greeks get money out of Italy... Germany is too busy giving tons of money to Israel... even very nice submarines
— We are the dead men (@marvinarevaloHH) April 8, 2015
Peter Roberts is an expert in sea power and naval weapons systems at the Royal United Services Institute in London and told Sputnik News that Israel will want to produce and develop nuclear capability on the new submarines.
"That's the long term aspiration", says Roberts. "But does it have it right now? No.
"These are new batch of submarines that Israel
is receiving which have a markedly increased capability on what they'd
had previously in terms of range, covertness and ability to reach
different parts of the world then they had previously been able to do."
Roberts adds that the submarines have the capability to become nuclear armed, "but probably not right now.""Several hurdles have to be overcome before it can be armed with a nuclear warhead."
He explains that the key to being able to arm the submarines with nuclear weapons is down to the delivery mechanism.
"The Israelis rely on the fact they could fire
the Popeye submarine missile — a system that the Americans successfully
launched in 2002. But traditionally the Israelis only keep the Harpoon
anti-ship missile."
"These are the first submarines that will be able to fire this
missile, the size of the torpedo tubes allow it to be fired, they have a
bigger tubes for bigger missiles.
"The submarines would have the ability to launch them [missiles] — it's the weapon itself that is the critical part and developing that weapon and navigation system for the guidance from within a submerged submarine is a further challenge."
Peter Roberts says it's difficult to say whether the submarines are distinctly designed for nuclear weapons.
"The Israelis will want to add this to their
golf bag of capability which will give them huge resilience in their
nuclear forces — but they're not there yet."
According to an article written by Anthony Bellchambers for Global
Research, the Dolphin Class nuclear powered submarines "that have
already been converted by the Israeli navy to being armed with ICB
nuclear missiles…has given the Israeli state 'deep sea dominance' that
is now virtually irreversible."
Adding that German Chancellor Merkel agreed to supply Israel with the vessels "without any prior consultation with the EU."
Why don't the Greeks get money out of Italy... Germany is too busy giving tons of money to Israel... even very nice submarines
— We are the dead men (@marvinarevaloHH) April 8, 2015
"To sum up, one may say that due to their characteristics of compactness, covertness, sustainability and high combat power, submarines made in Germany are already able to meet the majority of the demands which today's and future scenarios pose to underwater platforms.
"They do have their price, but they extend the maritime capability spectrum of the Bundeswehr in a unique way, and thus the military options in the hands of the political leaders…
"And it is no exaggeration to claim that the
German Navy today disposes of nothing less than the best non-nuclear
submarines in the world."
Newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung also reported that Germany's Federal
Security Council has consented to the export of six sonar systems
to India that can be used to detect submarines and torpedoes. Spare
parts to produce small-caliber ammunition have also been sent. The
council also approved the delivery of 336 unarmed military trucks
to Algeria.
Well that's it.
ReplyDeleteI will boycott Germany now along with China.
you creeps