Israel-bound submarines banned from testing in Norway's waters

[ErnstBlofeld]

Haaretz:

Israel-bound submarines will no longer be allowed to undergo tests in Norwegian territory, as part of the country's ban on security exports to Israel, Norway has informed a German shipbuilder.

In early 2011, the Israeli navy is due to receive one improved Dolphin submarine built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW ), a German shipbuilding company based in Kiel. It is scheduled to receive another one in 2012.
HDW leases a Norwegian submarine base to test its new submarines.

The first new Dolphin submarine has begun water trials, supervised by an Israeli team in Germany.

Following Oslo's decision, the German shipbuilder will have to carry out its deep-water testing at another site.

The Israeli navy's Squadron 7 has been using three Dolphin submarines for the past decade. The two new submarines are costing about 1.3 billion euros, according to German media reports, and Germany is funding a third of that.

The navy is expanding its submarine capabilities and doubling the number of operational crews, enabling them to undertake long-range missions far from their home port.

Israel and Germany recently discussed building a third submarine, Defense News reported.

The new submarines have an advanced propulsion system that enables them to stay submerged for up to three weeks.

In addition to their combat and intelligence gathering missions, Dolphin submarines are equipped with nuclear-head cruise missiles, according to foreign media reports.

Four months ago a Dolphin submarine passed southward via the Suez Canal in what was seen as an Israeli move to position a submarine in Persian Gulf waters.

HDW shipyards, one of the largest in the world, leases from the Norwegian government the Marvika submarine base on Norway's southern shore as a base for testing new submarines. During WWII this port served as a base for the German fleet's submarines.

The port serves as a departure point for deep-water experiments of up to 700 meters, and Israel's first three Dolphin submarines were tested here. Such experiments are necessary to locate structural weaknesses in the submarines' system, and are part of every new submarine's trial process.