The Israeli Navy has received two U212 Dolphin Class submarines ordered from Germany in 2005.

The new Dolphin Class submarines are a non-nuclear class developed and constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW), Germany specifically for the Israeli Navy.

The U212s are capable of carrying 35 crew members and up to 16 surface-to-surface missiles or torpedoes, each of which can deliver a 227kg warhead over a range of 130km at high subsonic speed.

The submarines have a range of 4,500km and are capable of launching nuclear warheads.

With the two new submarines, the Israeli Navy has a total of five German submarines.

Two Dolphin Class submarines were donated to Israel by Germany shortly after the 1991 Gulf War, replacing the Israeli Navy’s aging Gal Class submarines.

Naval Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Naval Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Virtualitics has secured the Innovation and Business Expansion awards for its Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) suite. Discover how its explainable AI is transforming maintenance, sustainment and mission readiness, giving defence leaders faster, clearer, and more confident operational decisions.

Discover the Impact