Israel Boosts Nuclear, Conventional Deterrence

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

In July, the Israeli navy -- a force mostly confined to the eastern Mediterranean -- sent three of its most powerful warships through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. A Dolphin-class diesel-powered submarine passed through the canal on July 3. Two Sa'ar 5-class corvettes followed, 10 days later. The ships trained alongside Egyptian forces, then returned to Israel by mid-July. It was the largest long-range naval deployment in recent history for the 5,500-strong Israeli navy, and the first since 2005 for an Israeli sub.

The naval deployments are part of a wide range of activities meant to reinforce Israel's strategic deterrence and its increasingly close ties to neighboring Arab states. Worries over Iran's continuing nuclear ambitions, and Tehran's ongoing support for Hezbollah and Hamas, have spurred big Israeli investment in strike aircraft, submarines, surface ships and missiles -- both nuclear and non-nuclear -- tailored for long-range strikes on heavily defended targets.

Egypt shares a deep distrust of Iranian intentions. Israel and Egypt were technically at war from 1948 until signing a peace treaty in 1979. The two countries' relations have warmed since then. Today they present an increasingly unified front against Iran.

Israel's three submarines reportedly carry nuclear-tipped cruise missiles of an unidentified type. The missiles, part of Israel's estimated 100-strong nuclear arsenal, reportedly have a range of up to 800 miles. The subs probably cannot hit Iran without passing through the Suez into the Red Sea and ultimately the Indian Ocean. The Red Sea is also the best route to the Gulf of Oman, where Israeli ships and submarines might enforce a blockade of Iran, during wartime.

Warship deployments "serve a political role by supplementing Israel's increasingly bellicose rhetoric about the clerical regime and its nuclear ambitions, reminding Iran that Israel also has the means to strike from the sea," U.S. think-tank Stratfor reported. That means will only grow in three years, when Israel brings into service two more Dolphins, nearly doubling its current at-sea nuclear striking power.

Israel's acquisition of new subs coincides with similar initiatives among major powers. In April, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced funding for a new class of nuclear-armed ballistic-missile submarines called the SSBN-X. Great Britain is also mulling a new class of missile subs. Russia reportedly spends as much as a third of its military budget on similar subs and their Bulava missiles.

While primarily intended for a deterrent role, according to John Pike from the Virginia-based think-tank Globalsecurity.org, the submarines also have a non-nuclear role. They can sink ships with their torpedoes, deliver commandos ashore and potentially strike land targets with conventional missiles. Warplanes share this non-nuclear strike role. Israeli F-16s, which carry special external fuel tanks for longer range, regularly practice attack missions at the U.S. Air Force's sprawling training grounds in Nevada. Last year, the Israeli air force staged an exercise over Greece that appeared to match the profile of an attack on Iran. "Israel is investing time in preparing itself for the complexity of an attack on Iran," an Israeli defense official told the Times of London.

Israel's apparent goal is to prepare for conventional, preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, while also boosting nuclear deterrence, in the event that preemptive strikes fail or become politically unpalatable, and Tehran eventually develops working nuclear weapons.

Israeli preparations began in earnest in the wake of the disastrous invasion of Lebanon in July 2006. More than 100 Israeli soldiers died in fierce fighting with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. "A paramilitary organization withstood the strongest army in the Middle East for weeks," concluded Israel's post-war Winograd Commission. "These results have far-reaching consequences for us and our enemies." Some experts fear a nuclear-armed Iran would be even more aggressive in its support for extremist groups.

In August 2006, Jerusalem placed a $1.3 billion order to a German shipyard for the two extra submarines. The first should enter service in 2012. At more than $600 million apiece, the submarines are the most expensive single pieces of military equipment Israel has ever purchased. Some observers have questioned the value of buying more submarines, when the Israeli surface fleet has had to scale back plans to buy new surface warships, on cost grounds. But the Israeli navy considers the submarines worth the price. A senior Israeli naval officer told World Politics Review that submarines "define" a navy.

For all its preparations, Israel faces major constraints in striking Iran with non-nuclear weapons, especially from the sea. "The Israeli navy is a coastal force," Pike said. Israel's surface vessels "would likely be operating at or beyond the limits of their endurance in the Gulf of Oman," Stratfor concluded. The submarines have longer range, but must frequently surface for air, exposing them to attack. The two new submarines will remedy that problem, with the installation of so-called "Air Independent Propulsion" that allows them to stay submerged longer.
(souce taken from: http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=4191)

Any thoughts?

[garudamon11]

if israel can get nuclear weapons then why cant iran or arab states get one ?

[danzig]

if israel can get nuclear weapons then why cant iran or arab states get one ?

Because they along with India and Pakistan (you know that muslim state) never signed the treaty, because all did it at a time when the world was busy pointing thousands of nukes at each other?

[garudamon11]

Because they along with India and Pakistan (you know that muslim state) never signed the treaty, because all did it at a time when the world was busy pointing thousands of nukes at each other?

uh , how would they point nukes at each other when they arent allowed to have one ?

are you saying europeans never "pointed thousand of nukes at each other" from 14th century to 20th century ?

[danzig]

uh , how would they point nukes at each other when they arent allowed to have one ?

are you saying europeans never "pointed thousand of nukes at each other" from 14th century to 20th century ?

No what I meant is the time period that these 3 countries developed nuclear weapons was during a period where the rest of the world (aka west and russians) had thousands pointed at each other and it wasnt a priority. Little tough to make an issue of some country churning out 5 weapons when Russians and we Americans were churning out hundreds at the time. Factor in that neither of the 3 signed up to NPT and you have a situation where you might not like it but they didnt do anything "wrong". Dunno why people forget this when they bring up Israel.

[Pickle_mole]

uh , how would they point nukes at each other when they arent allowed to have one ?

are you saying europeans never "pointed thousand of nukes at each other" from 14th century to 20th century ?

think before posting!

[Babur]

Because they along with India and Pakistan (you know that muslim state) never signed the treaty, because all did it at a time when the world was busy pointing thousands of nukes at each other?

well India developed its nuclear deterrent in the 70s in light of China's nuclear capabilities with the successful detonation of "Smiling Buddha" in Rajasthan, Pakistan in turn developed nuclear weapons to counter this but didn't test their first nukes until 1998, nearly ten years after the Cold War ended.

[danzig]

well India developed its nuclear deterrent in the 70s in light of China's nuclear capabilities with the successful detonation of "Smiling Buddha" in Rajasthan, Pakistan in turn developed nuclear weapons to counter this but didn't test their first nukes until 1998, nearly ten years after the Cold War ended.

Yeah but they were actively working on it as a counter to India's counter of China...the spotlight on all these smaller states popping up with nuclear weapons though really wasnt on until then in part because of Pakistan and the crap Khan did.

[Babur]

Yeah but they were actively working on it as a counter to India's counter of China...the spotlight on all these smaller states popping up with nuclear weapons though really wasnt on until then in part because of Pakistan and the crap Khan did.

well India's nuclear capability was also to counter Pakistan whom it had humilitiated in 1971.

Pakistan didn't get its nuclear capability until 1998, thanks to AQ Khan

however I still don't understand why Israel has the right to nuclear weapons while Iran doesn't,there has to be a balance of power.

[Central Asian Qaghan]

Yeah but they were actively working on it as a counter to India's counter of China...the spotlight on all these smaller states popping up with nuclear weapons though really wasnt on until then in part because of Pakistan and the crap Khan did.

What Pakistan did was following in its Foreign Policy. AQ Khan is a Hero. Or is foreign policy only ok when the US or NATO decides to invade someplace?

well India's nuclear capability was also to counter Pakistan whom it had humilitiated in 1971.

That makes total sense. Humilitiated Pakistan? Hardly. You got rid of a pesky province that wanted to govern West Pakistan. Hardly Humilitiated. Pakistan is stronger thanks to the fool hardy decision made by India.

[Jexiel]

That Iran will force Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel into an odd 4-way marriage. Disturbing to say, but Saddam Hussein was a necessary evil.

[garudamon11]

and israel is an angel ?

[Jexiel]

Where in my post did you read that?

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

and israel is an angel ?

That was a bit random, wasn't it...

[garudamon11]

what i meant was , why is israel allowed to have nuclear weapons but surrounding states cant ? israel isnt peaceful so i say they shouldnt be allowed to have nuclear weapons as well

[Martin N]

Why is iran a threat exactly, way i see it as is israel is the biggest threat to peace in the middle east, i dont see anyone else over there declaring war militia groups and then aiming for civilians, i dont see anyone else arming themselves to the teeth as much as israel does and i certainly dont see anyone else receiving huge amounts of aid from "Democratic" western countries. I dont particulay care whether iran is going for a nuclear weapon, israel has enough to wipe iran off the side of the earth anyway so its not exactly like there gonna fire it, and even if they do they have israel have enough anti missile technology to just laugh in the face of the nuke.

And once again, our misdeads in the us is coming back to bite us up the ass, if we didnt interfere in iran in 1953 just for oil, maybe wed have a peacefull and more pro western leader.

[priam11]

That is a very "big" maybe......

[Rebel Jeb]

Awesome. Go Israel.

[Каие]

So Israel has abandoned it's policy of ambiguity on Nuclear weapons?

@Danzig

Don't pretend the whole Iran nukes thing is about UN and international law and conventions.

[danzig]

So Israel has abandoned it's policy of ambiguity on Nuclear weapons?

@Danzig

Don't pretend the whole Iran nukes thing is about UN and international law and conventions.

Thanks but pay attention I didnt, he asked why Israel was given a pass and I gave a reason on why no one really harps on Pakistan, India or Israel. The cat was already out of the bag so to speak. Pretty simple really.