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"INS Tanin is the first Israeli Navy submarine
that possesses air-independent propulsion, and is the fourth submarine
Israel has acquired," a statement from the military said.
The navy's commander-in-chief, Major General Ram Rutberg, said that
acquiring the new vessel means the navy "will double its capabilities,
it will be able to reach further and deeper, for a longer period of
time, demonstrating force unknown till this day". According to
Israeli military experts, the country's submarines could be used as
a second strike capability in case of an Iranian attack using non-conventional
weapons.
The Dolphin submarines, of which the navy already has three, can be
equipped with missiles with nuclear warheads. Israel has never admitted
-- or denied -- having a nuclear arsenal, but experts believe it has
up to 200 atomic bombs and nuclear-tipped long-range missiles.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in the northern port of Haifa
for the submarine's arrival, and said Israel was determined to defend
all of its borders, land, air and sea. "The threats posed by Iran
and other Islamist groups oblige us to become stronger," he said.
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