WEST BANK (Dispatches) – The Zionist regime closed a deal on Thursday to buy three submarines from German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp for €3 billion ($3.4bn), the Times of Israel has reported.
“I would like to thank the German government for its assistance in advancing the agreement and for its commitment to Israel’s security,” said Zionist war minister Benny Gantz. “I am confident that the new submarines will upgrade the capabilities of the Israeli Navy, and will contribute to Israel’s security superiority in the region.”
The Dakar-class diesel-electric submarines will be produced by the Essen-based Thyssenkrupp industrial giant, and are expected to be delivered within nine years, the Zoionist regime’s war ministry said.
The agreement also includes the supply of spare parts and the creation of a training simulator in the occupied territories.
Israel’s navy operates five German-built Dolphin-class submarines and a sixth is under construction.
The Dakar submarines will reportedly replace three of the aging Dolphins.
According to the Zionist war ministry, the German government will fund part of the deal through a special grant as part of an accord signed between the occupying regime and Berlin in 2017.
Alongside the submarines, an €850-million agreement was signed with the German government to invest in Israeli industries, including military firms.
According to analysts, negotiations between the regime and Germany on the deal were delayed and complicated in part because of a suspected bribe scandal connected to Israel’s 2012 deal to buy Thyssenkrupp submarines.
It embroiled several high-ranking military officials and close associates of former Zionist prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Two of Netanyahu’s closest colleagues were accused of lobbying the regime’s military officials to choose the submarine arm of Thyssenkrupp for a contract.