Page 58 - NAVAL FORCES 03/2017

Regional Focus Middle East

plan, the sea arm is receiving greater propor-
tional funding than ever before for its buildup.
Submarines, new surface ships, bigger hel-
icopters, and strike systems. Plan Gideon is
also allocating increasing resources for a sea
superiority mission (see below).
Even now, details of the estimated €1.2
billion ($1.3 billion) deal with the German
government are far from clear, with news re-
ports stating that Berlin insisted on inserting
a clause into a soon-to-be signed memoran-
dum of understanding that will scrap the entire
package should the ongoing police investiga-
tion substantiate suspicions of graft.

Deep Diving Dolphins
The “Dolphin” class actually comprises two
related sub-classes of diesel-electric subma-
rine developed and constructed by Howaldts-
werke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW), part of
the Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
group, for the Israeli Navy. The first boats
of the class were based on the export-only
German 209 class submarines, but modified
and enlarged. The “Dolphin 1” sub-class is
slightly larger than the German Navy Type 212 One of the most secretive units in the whole of the IDF, Shayetet 13 (S13) is the naval component
in length and displacement. The three newer of Israel’s Special Operations Forces. Like the US Navy SEALs, S13 specialises in counterterrorism,
air-independent propulsion (AIP) equipped sabotage, intelligence gathering, hostage rescue, and boarding ships at sea.
Unlike other units in the IDF, whose mandatory service requirements are the same 36 months
boats are similar to the Type 212 vessels in required of every Israeli citizen, S13 volunteers must give at least four and half years to the unit.
underwater endurance, are 12m (39ft) longer,
nearly 500t heavier in submerged displace-
ment and have a larger crew than either the In 2016, it was revealed that a new sonar 2-18 GHz frequency bands and able to pin-
Type 212 or the Type 214. developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Sys- point radar sites with accuracy between 1.4
tems had begun to be fitted on all “Dolphin” and 5 degrees of angle, depending on frequen-
submarines in the last two years. The new ca- cy. The active surface search radar is an IAI
pabilities provided to the “Dolphins” by the Elta unit operating in the I-band. The sonar
Israeli sonar also include detection of vessels suite includes the Atlas Elektronik CSU 90
with a low noise signature. The algorithms hull-mounted passive and active search and
One of the used in the sonar systems enable it to ignore attack sonar. The PRS-3 passive ranging sonar
Israel Navy’s many of the noises that can disrupt the range is also supplied by Atlas Elektronik, while the
new submarines, of the systems‘ activity, while detecting very flank array is an FAS-3 passive search sonar.
the INS “Rahav.”
distant noises. In late 2016, reports emerged of The submarines have two Kollmorgen peri-
negotiations for the purchase of three additio- scopes.
nal TKMS-built submarines. Each “Dolphin” The “Dolphins” are powered by three V-16
boat is fitted with six 533mm (21in) and four 396 SE 84 diesel engines built by MTU, de-
650mm (26in) torpedo tubes. The boats were veloping 3.12MW (4,180HP) sustained
first armed with Atlas Elektronik DM2A3 tor- power. They are equipped with three Siemens
pedoes using wire-guided active homing to de- 750kW alternators and a Siemens 2.85MW
liver a 260kg (570lbs) warhead at a maximum sustained-power motor driving a single shaft.
speed of 35kn to a target over 13km (8.1mi) The propulsion system provides a speed of
away. Israel has also procured the DM2A4 20kn submerged and a snorkeling speed of 11
torpedo, successor to their DM2A3s, which knots. The hull is rated for dives up to 350m
is electrically propelled, equipped with fibre (1,150 feet). The maximum unrefuelled range
optic communications and has countermeas- is 8,000nm traveling on the surface at 8kn and
ure-resistant signals processing and mission over 400nm at 8kn submerged; they are de-
logic. signed to remain unsupplied for up to 30 days
A wet and dry compartment is installed on station.
for deploying underwater special operations Israel’s sixth strategic submarine, the
teams. “Dolphin” AIP INS “Dakar,” is expected
The “Dolphin” class uses the ISUS 90-1 to arrive in late 2019 or early 2020, service
TCS weapon control system supplied by Atlas officials say.
Elektronik for automatic sensor management,
fire control, navigation, and operations. The Equipment
installed radar warning receiver, developed
by Elbit Systems, is a 4CH(V)2 Timnex elec- Three new “Sa‘ar 72” class corvettes are
tronic support measures system, scanning the under construction at Israel Shipyards Ltd.

56 NAVAL FORCES III/2017