Israel's new German subs to be equipped for for firing nukes

LONDON — Germany has provided Israel with aid to prepare three conventional submarines for a nuclear attack.

The Berlin-based Der Spiegel reported Sunday that the German government provided Israel with financial and technical aid to allow the Jewish state to launch a nuclear second strike in response to any Arab nuclear attack. The weekly said the three Dolphin-class submarines delivered to Israel can be converted to allow them to fire nuclear warheads.

Last week, the last of three Dolphin-class submarines arrived in Israel.

German officials denied that the government has provided such aid. But they acknowledged in parliament last week that Berlin could not rule out that the Dolphin submarines would be converted into platforms for nuclear weapons.

The news magazine said Rafael, Israel Armament Development Authority is extending the range of the missiles deployed on the subs. The current German-supplied missiles have a range of 130 kilometers, but Rafael is extending this to 350 kilometers, Der Spiegel said.

The Rafael missile, the magazine said, will have a nuclear warhead.

The German report was the latest assertion by Western sources that Israel is preparing the Dolphin-class submarines for the prospect of a nuclear counterstrike against any Iranian and Arab attack.

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