Israel: Navy completing secret 2 year submarine upgrade

[NiceFarmer]

By YAAKOV KATZ
12/19/2011 03:09

Israel is reinstating one of its Dolphin-class submarines; Gantz gives Chief of Staff awards to covert Flotilla 13, Maglan units.

Talkbacks (20)
Israel will boost its long-arm strategic capabilities with the reinstatement of one of its Dolphin-class submarines that underwent an unprecedented structural overhaul.

The submarine, one of three currently in the navy, arrived in Israel in 1999 and is the first to undergo the mid-life renovation. The Israeli submarines, which were purchased from Germany, have an expected lifespan of 30 years.


The submarine was taken out of service almost two years ago but the renovation was a carefully guarded secret in the navy so Israel’s enemies would not know that one of its three submarines was out of commission.

Now that it is heading back to sea and ahead of the graduation of the navy’s 100th Submariner Course, The Jerusalem Post was invited Sunday to tour the shipyard in Haifa where the submarine is being reassembled.

“Every vessel that comes in to the shipyard for maintenance and upgrades comes out with improved capabilities,” Col. Eli Shouach, commander of the navy’s shipyard, told the Post. “There are a select number of countries around the world which can independently renovate a submarine. Some have tried and failed.”

Israel’s submarines are the military’s most expensive platform and are often referred to as the country’s second-strike doomsday weapon due to their reported ability to fire cruise missiles tipped with nuclear warheads.

The three Dolphin-class submarines in the navy’s fleet are called Dolphin, Leviathan and Tekuma and are believed to be some of the most advanced diesel-electric submarines in the world. They replaced the 23- year-old Gal class submarines and in the coming years will be joined by two additional submarines currently under construction in Germany.

Maj. Doron Bareket, the officer in charge of the upgrades, said that the renovations include dismantling all of the submarine’s valves, pipes and sonar systems. The engine is also taken apart, cleaned and reassembled.

The submarine’s body is also cleaned and cracks in the hull are welded back together.

The entire upgrade is costing the navy close to NIS 100 million, the most expensive upgrade the shipyard has ever carried out.

With the expected arrival of two additional submarines in the coming years, the shipyard is also undergoing renovations to accommodate the new vessels and building new hangars, some of which will be protected from potential Hezbollah and Syrian missile attacks.

Navy completing secret 2 year submarine upgrad... JPost - Defense

 

[regular]

Okay interesting to hear the Israels submarines upgrading .Why they were so much secretive about their upgradingz nobody is a threat to them.looks like they fear their shadow too...

 

[T90TankGuy]

Okay interesting to hear the Israels submarines upgrading .Why they were so much secretive about their upgradingz nobody is a threat to them.looks like they fear their shadow too...

when 6 million of your people are wiped out , and you have neighbors hell bent on seeing your destruction . you tend to be a little careful.

 

[Machine]

Okay interesting to hear the Israels submarines upgrading .Why they were so much secretive about their upgradingz nobody is a threat to them.looks like they fear their shadow too...

Because Israel has 3 subs third of them were out of service of two years