DEFENSE MINISTRY RECEIVES IDF'S 4TH DOLPHIN CLASS SUBMARINE FROM GERMANY
(Communicated by Josh, Hantman, International Media Advisor, MOD
dover@mod.gov.il

At an official ceremony held today Thursday, 3.5.12, at the Kiel shipyard in
Hamburg, the Defense Ministry received a fourth Dolphin class submarine –
"INS Tanin". It was officially transferred to the Defense Ministry and the
Israel Navy and is due to arrive in Israel in 2013.

Defense Ministry Director-General Udi Shani, GOC Navy Maj.-Gen. Ram
Rothberg, the head of the Ministry's Procurement Administration, Brig.-Gen.
Shmuel Tzucker, along with other senior Israeli officials and their German
counterparts launched the fourth Dolphin Class submarine, marking its
transfer to the Defense Ministry and the Israel Navy. This ceremony signaled
the end of a lengthy process led by the Procurement Administration.

The highpoint of the event in the Kiel shipyard was the ceremonial breaking
of the champagne bottle against the submarine by both Israeli and German
officials.

"INS Tanin" will arrive in Israel during the course of 2013, once all the
relevant checks are complete. It is considered to be among the most
advanced and sophisticated submarines in the world, and will be Israel's
most expensive piece of military equipment. The Dolphin submarine is
extremely versatile with a range of capabilities enabling it to adapt to a
multitude of missions.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak congratulated the Navy and the IDF on the
occasion of the submarine's launching and noted: "The submarine will be
another force multiplier in terms of the capabilities and strength of the
IDF and the State of Israel in the face of the growing regional challenges.
The Navy has been undergoing a number of strategic changes in recent years;
changes that place it as the long arm of the IDF, at the very forefront of
the campaign to secure the State of Israel. This deal is an expression of
the depth of the relationship with Germany, reflecting the ongoing
commitment of the Government of Germany to Israel's security."

Defense Ministry Director-General Shani noted at the event: "My greatest
appreciation and thanks go to the officials at the Ministry of Defense and
the Defense Establishment for the negotiation process, development,
construction and integration of the Dolphin class submarine and the advanced
combat systems with which the submarine is equipped. The ceremony, more
than anything, symbolizes the strong and unique bond between Germany and
Israel. With the current developments and growing regional challenges, the
cooperation between Germany and Israel has grown even stronger."

Director-General Shani thanked his German counterpart and noted: "On behalf
of the State of Israel and the Defense Establishment, I thank you for taking
up this unique project. Without your dedication and professionalism, this
mission would never have been completed."

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, also highlighted the importance of
this acquisition and the strategic importance of Israel's growing submarine
fleet: "The Navy and its fleet of submarines, along with other arms of the
IDF, make up an arm of deterrence – a defensive and 'fighting' arm – on a
strategic level both for the IDF and the State of Israel."

GOC Navy Maj. Gen. Ram Rothberg added: "At a time when threats are becoming
global in their nature, the relationship between Israel and Germany is more
crucial than ever."
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Last month, Defense Minister Barak was in Germany to sign an additional
agreement for the construction and delivery of a new and improved submarine.
This will be Israel's sixth submarine and it is expected to arrive in 2017,
joining the fourth and fifth submarines (which will arrive in Israel in 2013
and 2014 respectively).

The cost of each submarine is approximately $0.5 billion. One-third of this
sum is funded by the Government of Germany.