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Der Spiegel: Germany will sell Israel sixth submarine
According to a report in Der Spiegel on Sunday, Germany will provide Israel with its sixth Dolphin-class submarine and will subsidise the deal with a total of 135 million euros. According to the report, German Defence Minister Tomas de Maiziere met in Israel last week with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak and promised to finalise the deal for the submarine.
Talks on the deal for the submarine stalled last year after the Germans declined to underwrite it, as they had done with previous purchases. The vessel cost per-unit is between $500 million and $700m. The submarines are considered one of Israel’s most sophisticated and strategic weapons, with the capability of launching nuclear-armed cruise missiles. Israel already has three Dolphin-class subs; another two are currently under construction in Germany with expected delivery dates of 2012 and 2013.