Israel’s defense ministry and the department of navy have ordered a floating dock to be built by Israel Shipyards.
In addition to the dock order, Israel Shipyards revealed that it has been awarded a 10-year service agreement to maintain and repair the navy’s new SA’AR 6 corvettes and Dolphin-class submarines.
As explained, the dock will also be used for the installation of all-Israeli combat systems onboard the SA’AR 6 vessels upon their arrival from Germany, where they are being constructed by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in early 2020 while all four units are expected to be delivered by 2021.
The same shipbuilder is also in charge of delivering the country’s fleet of Dolphin-class diesel-attack submarines that are based on the Type 209 design. Dragon, the sixth submarine in the class, which features air-independent propulsion for longer stays under the surface, is to be delivered by 2020.
Israel is expected to order an additional three boats that are envisioned as a replacement of the country’s first three Dolphin submarines in about a decade, maintaining the service’s submarine fleet at six units.
