Malcolm Turnbull told us he’s ordering 12 submarines for $50 billion, with the last to be delivered in 50 years.
Israel is now reportedly buying three submarines for under $2 billion, with delivery in a few years. Are we getting ripped off?
The Israeli Navy is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to buy three nuclear-capable submarines from Germany for $1.3 billion [US]…
“The new submarines are said to be more advanced, longer and equipped with better accessories,” the report said.
The Israeli Navy’s Dolphin-class submarines provide the Jewish state with second-strike nuclear capabilities, experts say. They have the ability to travel long distances from Israel’s territorial waters and can reportedly carry long-range cruise missiles tipped with nuclear warheads.
Israel has already purchased five nuclear-capable Dolphin-class submarines from Germany with a sixth sub due for delivery in 2017.
One difference between the two purchases is that Israel does not insist the subs be built in Adelaide.
But don’t expect this to become a political issue. The Liberals, Labor and the Xenophon party are fiercely united in using defence dollars not to buy great subs but prop up South Australia.
From the Bolt blog.