Israel's purchase of submarines is intended to "catch many birds with one stone"
Not long ago, Israel formally signed an agreement with Germany to purchase three submarines from Germany's Thyssen-Krupp Marine Systems at a cost of 3 billion euros, the first of which will be delivered within nine years.
Some analysts believe that this arms purchase is not only a major step for Israel to upgrade its equipment, but also reflects its long-term strategic consideration of preparing for war with a focus on the geographical environment.
At present, the main submarine of the Israeli Navy is the "Dolphin" class conventionally powered submarine produced by Germany.
This type of submarine has a battery life of up to 30 days regardless of range, and can carry cruise missiles with a range of 1,500 kilometers. It can be equipped with conventional warheads or nuclear warheads, and can effectively deter neighboring hostile countries.
But Israel has at least three Dolphin-class submarines that have been in the water for more than 20 years and need to be prepared for replacement.
The three new submarines purchased by Israel this time from Germany are upgraded versions of the existing "Dolphin" class submarines, named "Dakar" class to commemorate the "Dakar" submarine that disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea in 1968.
The "Dakar" class submarine adopts an advanced AIP propulsion system, which can continue to run diesel generators without relying on air underwater, and uses electric power for propulsion, which has the advantages of quietness and low resistance during submersion.
More importantly, this type of submarine will be equipped with a vertical launch device that can launch nuclear missiles and has a strong second nuclear strike capability.
Under the agreement, Germany will also build submarine training simulators in Israel and provide logistical support and spare parts supply.
In addition, Germany also agreed to provide 600 million euros in subsidies for the deal, as originally promised.
These favorable conditions are all important factors for the smooth progress of this arms purchase.
There are deep-seated geostrategic considerations behind Israel's large submarine purchase order.
Israel has a small area and lacks resources. It has been surrounded by neighboring countries for a long time on land. The geopolitical conditions are very bad, and it has faced severe survival crises many times in history.
The coastlines and ports on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea are important passages for Israel to connect with European and American countries.
The founding Prime Minister of Israel, Ben Gurion, once said: "Just as we must turn the desert into an oasis, we must also conquer the ocean." Therefore, Israel has always attached great importance to strengthening the construction of armed forces at sea to protect the security of the ocean.
If the order for the "Dakar" class submarines can be successfully delivered, it will undoubtedly be a major improvement for the Israeli Navy's strategic deterrence and strike capabilities.
This military purchase also reflects Israel's strategic intention to make up for its geographical disadvantage through its military and technological advantages.
After many wars, Israel has gained a firm foothold in the Middle East, and its territorial area has continued to expand. More and more Arab countries have to face up to and accept its existence.
The second half of 2020 saw a breakthrough in the relationship between Israel and the Arab world.
In less than four months, the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco announced the normalization of relations with Israel one after another, which undoubtedly broke the long-held basic consensus of "Palestine-Israel peace followed by Arab-Israeli peace" and "land for peace". "in principle.
This is inseparable from the promotion of the United States, but more importantly, it is the support of Israel's strong military strength.
Israel, which has tasted the sweetness, has further increased its military construction efforts, and has spent a lot of money on military purchases.
Last year alone, Israel's two arms purchases with the United States amounted to billions of dollars.
In May 2021, when the Palestinians and Israelis exchanged fire, the US government approved the sale of precision-guided weapons worth $735 million to Israel.
On December 31, 2021, Israel and the United States signed an agreement to purchase 12 CH-53K helicopters and 2 KC-46 tankers, with a total value of about $3.1 billion.
The purchase of submarines with a second nuclear strike capability from Germany will not only help Israel deal with nuclear threats from hostile countries, but also help it maintain and expand its military advantage in the Middle East.
In addition, Israel also uses the arms trade as an important means to connect with allies and enhance its international status.
Although there is a dark page in the history of the Nazi Holocaust, because of Germany's profound reflection on history, the relations between Germany and Israel have developed well, and the two sides have maintained close military cooperation for a long time.
Taking advantage of Germany's emotional guilt in history and arms sales interests in reality, Israel continues to deepen its military cooperation with Germany, and actively seeks Germany to provide political support to Israel on the Middle East issue.
Li Wei Liu Weizhi