(June 2024)

Shrouded in secrecy, the Dolphin- and Dolphin II–class submarines are the primary naval assault power of the Israeli Defense Force. They provide the often-beleaguered nation an array of capabilities, ranging from intelligence collection and special operations support to antisurface warfare and deterrence patrols. Shayetet 7, the navy’s submarine unit, operates the current fleet of five (soon to be six) submarines out of Haifa. The first two boats—the Dolphin and Leviathan—were fully funded by Germany, while the cost for the third, the Tekuma, was shared equally between the two countries.