Germany has approved the sale of an additional nuclear-capable submarine to Israel and is expected to subsidize 135 million euros (about $190 million) of the deal, German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Sunday. According to the report, German Defense Minister Tomas de Maiziere met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Israel last week. De Maiziere reportedly promised to finalize the deal for the Dolphin class submarine, which is capable of launching nuclear-armed ballistic missiles. The deal for the sixth submarine reportedly stalled last year after Germany declined to subsidize it, as it has with previous transfers to Israel. The vessel's estimated cost is between $500 million and $700 million. In May 2011, Reuters reported that the deal had been concluded. "Its finalized we will be getting another submarine from Germany, with payments spread over several years, an Israeli official was quoting as saying at the time. Reuters said the official did not comment on how much the Dolphin would cost Israel, or whether Germany would agree to a discount. Germany has been providing Israel with Dolphin class submarines since the late 1990s. Israel currently has a fleet of three Dolphin class submarines, two of which Germany donated to Israel after the first Gulf War to boost its strategic abilities. According to reports, Germany split the cost of the third vessel with Israel. Two more Dolphin class submarines are currently being manufactured in Germany and are scheduled for delivery to Israel in 2012 and 2013. The boats are manufactured at the Howaldtswerke-Deutche Werft AG (HDW) shipyard in the city of Kiel. According to reports, the Germans have incorporated specifications from the Israel Navy into their production and the submarines currently in Israel's fleet were tailor-made for its needs. Some experts have claimed the nuclear-capable Dolphin class submarines provide Israel with a "second strike" capability that would enable it to retain its nuclear capabilities in the event of a nuclear attack. In 2009, Israel deployed the vessel to the Red Sea, reportedly as a deterrent to Iran, and the navy also reportedly stationed at least one submarine equipped with nuclear missiles there in 2010 in response to rumored ballistic missile transfers from Syria to Lebanon.
