Israel’s navy is negotiating for the construction of three new Saar-5 class missile boats and two Dolphin-class submarines, Rear Adm. Avraham Ben-Shoshan, commander of the navy, disclosed this week.
The vessels, to be built in the United States and West Germany, will cost about $1.2 billion. Ben-Shoshan said the decision culminated nine “wasted” years of discussion during which no agreement was reached by the defense establishment on the navy’s procurement requests.
The original plans were scaled down from four to three missile boats and from three to two submarines. The missile boats moreover will be of 1,200 tons displacement instead of the rumored 3,000 tons. But they will carry the same size crew as the Saar-4 class missile boats presently in the fleet.
The new submarines will be among the most modern conventionally powered undersea craft in the world, Ben-Shoshan said. They will be custom built to the Israel navy’s requirements.
Israel’s navy is the smallest of the three branches of the Israel Defense Force. Its personnel consists of 10,000 regular sailors and 10,000 reservists. According to the Middle East balance of power listing published by Tel Aviv University’s Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Israel’s navy in 1986 consisted of 26 fast missile patrol boats of various types, three submarines, two hydrofoils, 47 small patrol craft and 151 landing craft.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
