March 20, 2012, Germany’s Defense Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, announced that Germany will sell Israel at least one more Dolphin submarine.
The Dolphin submarine is made specially for Israel, and is a smaller version of the 209 class sub. It can carry SLCM (submarine launched cruise missiles) which can be armed with nuclear warheads. Oh, but I don’t hear any Western powers complaining about that!
Not only is Germany selling more of these submarines to Israel, but according to an unnamed source in the German government, they’re covering one third of the cost (about $178 million) and providing easy loans to Israel in order to pay for the rest!
Israel has three of the 2,800 mile range submarines, with two on order not counting this latest announcement.