Israel signs agreement to buy three more German submarines
While the Knesset debates opening an inquiry into the purchase of German submarines under the Netanyahu government, Defense Minister Benny Gantz has announced a new deal with ThyssenKrupp for the purchase of three more such vessels.
Israel reached an agreement today to purchase three submarines from German ship builder ThyssenKrupp. The megadeal will see the first upgraded diesel-electric submarine out of the three purchased constructed and delivered to the Israeli navy within nine years. The purchase agreement was inked at the Defense Ministry's Tel Aviv headquarters by director Amir Eshel and by ThyssenKrupp CEO Rolf Wirtz, in the presence of Israeli naval commander David Salama.
Reports say the three submarines would cost more than double their original price, for a total of 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion). The German government will fund 540 million euros in the deal, with a special grant via an agreement signed between the two countries back in 2017. Israeli politicians criticized the rise in price, which was apparently not reported ahead of the signing to the government nor to the Knesset. Still, experts explained that the rise in price reflects the change of product, with Israel now purchasing much more advanced models.
