German-Israeli Dolphin AIP Sub Contract Signed

SSK Dolphin Class(click to view full) On Aug 22/06, The Jerusalem Post reported a formal contract signing for 2 SSK Dolphin Class diesel-electric submarines from HDW’s shipyard in Kiel, Germany. EADS is also a player in the deal following its acquisition of Atlas Elektronik. Unlike their 3 predecessors, these submarines would incorporate an AIP(Air Independent Propulsion) system in order to allow them to spend far more time submerged; most likely HDW’s system used on the U-212 Class. The Jerusalem Post reported that the contract was signed after a long dispute over the price and financing, though the final cost in dollars ($1.27 billion) was only slightly higher than our originally-reported EUR 1 billion/ $1.17 billion. A third of the deal will still be financed by the German government, in effect a subsidy of the jobs and production at HDW. See DID’s in-depth coverage of the deal for more. The same article also noted that the Israeli Navy is considering a Fixed Underwater Sonar System off its coast, to improve detection of foreign submarines.