JERUSALEM, May 5 (UPI) -- Israel will purchase a third Dolphin Class submarine from Germany for $1 billion despite objections from senior military officials, defense officials said.
A special ministerial forum approved the purchase of the sub, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, Yedioth Ahronoth said Thursday, quoting unnamed foreign sources.
The purchase of the submarine was a bone of contention within the government, the daily said.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved buying an additional submarine despite objections from senior military officials who said it was unnecessary, the newspaper said.
The latest purchase will expand Israel's fleet to six Dolphins. The first two submarines were donated by Germany and delivered to Israel in 1997 and a third was purchased by Israel and delivered in 1999. In 2006 Israel purchased two more submarines that are expected to be delivered later this year, the paper said.
The Dolphin submarine is a diesel electric submarine constructed by Howaldswerke-Deutsche Werft AG for the Israeli navy. It is considered among the most sophisticated submarines in the world and capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
