Dolphin Submarines

In 1999, the Israeli Navy welcomed its first Dolphin-class submarine from Germany and has since imported three Dolphins to round out it current submarine fleet.

The Dolphin submarines are not only the most advanced and sophisticated submarines that the Israeli Navy has ever used, they also play a crucial role in the "game" of deterrence in the volatile Middle East region. At extreme moments of tactical or strategic uncertainty, such as in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Israel’s first walls of defense are its long-range strategic arms – and the most secretive one is the submarine fleet led by the Dolphins.

The Dolphin submarines second-strike capability - in essence, its ability to fire off ballistic missiles against long-range targets in the event of an attack on the Israeli homefront - ensures that Israel's enemies realize that attacking the Jewish state with weapons of mass destruction will definitely be responded to in kind.

The Dolphin submarines can hold approximately 40 sailors onboard at any given time and have been known to take part in training operations around the world. Due to the secrative nature of the submarine fleet, though, Israel does not permit the Dolphins from docking in foreign ports - even in allied countries.